critical faculties meaning, critical faculties definition | English Cobuild dictionary



1       adj   A critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important.   (=crucial)  
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign..., He says setting priorities is of critical importance..., How you finance a business is critical to the success of your venture.     
  critically      adv   ADV with v, ADV adj  
Economic prosperity depends critically on an open world trading system..., It was a critically important moment in his career.     
2       adj   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      adv   usu ADV adj  
Moscow is running critically low on food supplies.     
3       adj   If a person is critical or in a critical condition in hospital, they are seriously ill.  
Ten of the injured are said to be in critical condition.     
  critically      adv   usu ADV adj, also ADV with v  
She was critically ill...     
4       adj   To be criticalof someone or something means to criticize them.  
oft ADJ of n  
His report is highly critical of the trial judge..., He has apologised for critical remarks he made about the referee.     
  critically      adv  
She spoke critically of Lara.     
5       adj   A critical approach to something involves examining and judging it carefully.  
ADJ n  
We need to become critical text-readers..., ...the critical analysis of political ideas.     
  critically      adv  
Wyman watched them critically.     
6       adj   If something or someone receives critical acclaim, critics say that they are very good.  
ADJ n  
The film met with considerable critical and public acclaim...     

critical mass  
1       n-sing   In physics, the critical mass of a substance is the minimum amount of it that is needed for a nuclear chain reaction.     (TECHNICAL)   also no det  
2       n-sing   A critical mass of something is an amount of it that makes it possible for something to happen or continue.  
also no det  
Only in this way can the critical mass of participation be reached.     
Translation English Cobuild Collins Dictionary  
Add your entry in the Collaborative Dictionary.


Reverso Community

  • Create your own vocabulary list
  • Contribute to the Collaborative Dictionary
  • Improve and share your linguistic knowledge