Читаем Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

1 ADJ A critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important. □  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. ●  criti|cal|ly /kr I t I kli/ 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 authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical. □  Its day-to-day finances are in a critical state. ●  criti|cal|ly 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. ●  criti|cal|ly ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] □  She was critically ill.

4 ADJ To be critical of someone or something means to criticize them. □ [+ of ] His report is highly critical of the trial judge. □  He has apologised for critical remarks he made about the referee. ●  criti|cal|ly ADV □ [+ of ] She spoke critically of Lara.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] A critical approach to something involves examining and judging it carefully. □  We need to become critical text-readers. □  …the critical analysis of political ideas. ●  criti|cal|ly ADV □  Wyman watched them critically.

6 ADJ [ADJ n] If something or someone receives critical acclaim, critics say that they are very good. □  The film met with considerable critical and public acclaim. SYNONYMS critical ADJ

1

crucial:…the most crucial election campaign for years.

momentous:The past three years have been among the most momentous in world history.

decisive:The election campaign has now entered its final, decisive phase.

vital:After her release, she was able to give vital information about her kidnapper.

4

scathing:He then launched a scathing attack on previous leaders.

disparaging:He was critical of the people, disparaging of their crude manners.

derogatory:He refused to withdraw derogatory remarks made about his boss.

disapproving:Janet gave him a disapproving look.

contemptuous:He's openly contemptuous of all the major political parties.

cri ti|cal ma ss

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 ]

2 N‑SING A critical mass of something is an amount of it that makes it possible for something to happen or continue. □ [+ of ] Only in this way can the critical mass of participation be reached.

criti|cise /kr I t I sa I z/ → see criticize

criti|cism ◆◆◇ /kr I t I s I zəm/ (criticisms )