[ˈkrɪtɪkl], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements
(e.g: I was very critical of the previous regime)

- expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art
(e.g: she never won the critical acclaim she sought)

- (of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis
(e.g: the floodwaters had not receded and the situation was still critical)

- relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another
(e.g: if the density is less than a certain critical value the gravitational attraction will be too weak to halt the expansion)

- (of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction
(e.g: the reactor is due to go critical in October)


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 16th century (in the sense ‘relating to the crisis of a disease’): from late Latin criticus (see critic)