critical

adjective

1. 1

   marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws

   a critical attitude

2. 2

   characterized by careful evaluation and judgment

   a critical reading

   a critical dissertation

3. 3

   being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency

   a critical shortage of food

   a critical illness

4. 4

   at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction

   a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure

   critical mass

5. 5

   forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis

   a critical point in the campaign

   the critical test

6. 6

   urgently needed; absolutely necessary

   a critical element of the plan

   critical medical supplies

7. 7

   of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism

   critical acclaim