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critical:

The adj critical has 7 senses (first 6 from tagged texts)

1. (7) critical -- (marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude")
2. (5) critical -- (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"; "go critical")
3. (5) critical -- (characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; "a critical reading"; "a critical dissertation"; "a critical analysis of Melville's writings")
4. (3) critical, vital -- (urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy society"; "of vital interest")
5. (2) critical, decisive -- (forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; "a critical point in the campaign"; "the critical test")
6. (1) critical -- (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")
7. critical -- (of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism; "critical acclaim")

critical