|
critical
has definitions from the fields of chemistry,physics
|
|
| 1 |
[ adjective ] marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
Examples "a critical attitude" Used in print (Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)the crude sketch of Piepsam contains , in its critical , destructive and self-destructive tendencies , much that is enlarged and illuminated in the figures of , for_instance , Naphta and Leverku^hn . (Christopher Davis, First Family....)Mr._McKinley examined everything with critical care , seeking something material to blame for his son 's illness . (Guy Bolton, The Olympians....)Mary 's super critical attitude toward Byron had nothing to_do_with his moral disrepute . Related terms uncritical scathing caviling hypercritical deprecative censorious captious sarcastic unfavorable |
| 2 |
[ adjective ] characterized by careful evaluation and judgment
Examples "a critical reading" "a critical dissertation" "a critical analysis of Melville's writings Used in print (Tristram P. Coffin, "Folklore in the American Twentieth...)The commercial propagandist , who can n't afford to be critical , gets_along well with the amateur , from whom he feeds , but he frequently steps on the analyst 's toes by refusing to keep his material genuine . Related terms |
| 3 |
[ adjective ] (chemistry and physics) at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction
Examples "a critical temperature" "critical mass" "go critical" Used in print (James A. Ibers et al., "Proton magnetic resonance...)Moreover , it will be asymmetric until a certain critical **f distance is reached , below which it will become symmetric . (Jay C. Harris and John R. Van Wazer, "Detergent...)Physicochemical investigations of anionic surfactants , including the soaps , have shown that there is little polymerization or agglomeration of the chain anions below a certain region of concentration called the critical micelle concentration . ( 1 ) Below the critical micelle concentration , monomers and some dimers are present . ( 2 ) In the critical micelle region , there is a rapid agglomeration or polymerization to give the micelles , which have a degree of polymerization averaging around 60 - 80 . (E. Gellhorn, "Prolegomena to a theory of the emotions"...)Furthermore , conditioned_reactions are fundamentally altered when the hypothalamic sympathetic reactivity is augmented beyond a critical level , and several types of behavioral changes probably related_to the degree of central autonomic `` tuning '' are observed . Related terms |
| 4 |
[ adjective ] urgently needed; absolutely necessary
Synonyms Examples "a critical element of the plan" "critical medical supplies" "vital for a healthy society" "of vital interest" Used in print (LeRoy Fothergill, "Biological Warfare", in Peter...)In considering BW defense , it must be recognized that a number of critical meteorological parameters must be met for an aerosol to exhibit optimum effect . All_of these considerations are of critical importance in considering defense and medical management . Related terms |
| 5 |
[ adjective ] forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
Synonyms Examples "a critical point in the campaign" "the critical test" Used in print (Richard I. McCosh, "Recreation Site Selection"...)The quantity of water flow may be critical ; a stream or pond which is attractive in the springtime may become stagnant or dry in late summer . (Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)When I try to work_out my reasons for feeling that this passage is of critical significance , I come_up with the following ideas , which I shall express very briefly here and revert to in a later essay . Related terms |
| 6 |
[ adjective ] being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency
Examples "a critical shortage of food" "a critical illness" "an illness at the critical stage" Used in print (Public Papers of the Presidents of the U.S. D. D....)This project was started at a time when there was a critical need for a high energy fuel to provide an extra margin of range for high performance aircraft , particularly our heavy bombers . |
| 7 |
[ adjective ] of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism
Examples "critical acclaim" Related terms |
| * |
|