Of the point (in temperature, reagent concentration etc.) where a nuclear or chemical reaction becomes self-sustaining
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude"
Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious
Characterized by careful judgment and specified methods used to weigh evidence and arrive at sound, defensible conclusions; from the Greek krino, to judge Scholarly study of the Bible is called "critical" whereas devotional or "in the pews" Bible study is called "uncritical" or "pre-critical " Biblical criticism is the critical study of biblical texts; "text criticism," "literary criticism," and "canonical criticism" each refer to a particular focus and method of biblical criticism
being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness at the critical stage"
A critical situation is very serious and dangerous. The German authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical Its day-to-day finances are in a critical state. + critically criti·cal·ly Moscow is running critically low on food supplies
Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation
forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; "a critical point in the campaign"; "the critical test"
Exercising or involving careful judgement or evaluation, e g , judging the feasibility of an idea or product
Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture; important as regards consequences; hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the critical stage of a fever; a critical situation
Anything which is essential A form of illness which is life threatening See critical illness insurance
Kant's lifelong approach to philosophy which distinguishes beè² ween different perspectives and then uses such distinctions to settle otherwise unresolvable disputes The Critical approach is not primarily negative, but is an attempt to adjudicate quarrels by showing the ways in which both sides have a measure of validity, once their perspective is properly understood Kant's system of Critical philosophy emphasizes the importance of examin虹ng the structure and limitations of reason itself