Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
The state of being critical.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: criticalness
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A disposition for purposeful thinking and acting guided by criteria that are considered to be contextually appropriate and that are expected to result in positive outcomes related to the purpose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: education
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a critical state; especially the point at which a nuclear reaction is self-sustaining
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: juncture, critical point, crossroads
Narrower terms: flash point, flashpoint
noun
a state of critical urgency
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: criticalness, cruciality
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: urgency
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *krey- Proto-Indo-European *krinyétider. Proto-Hellenic *kríňňō Ancient Greek κρῑ́νω (krī́nō) Ancient Greek κρῐ- (krĭ-) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek κρῐτής (krĭtḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós)bor. Latin criticus Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English critical Proto-Indo-European *-teh2 Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh2ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English criticality From critical + -ity.
Across languages
1 source translations are retained for this English entry.
