critical
critical
(krɪtɪkəl )1. adjective
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
Environmentalists say a critical factor in the city's pollution is its population.
He says setting priorities is of critical importance.
How you finance a business is critical to the success of your venture.
critically (krɪtɪkli ) adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
Economic prosperity depends critically on an open world trading system.
It was a critically important moment in his career.
2. adjective
The German authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical.
Its day-to-day finances are in a critical state.
critically adverb [usually ADVERB adjective]
Moscow is running critically low on food supplies.
3. adjective
Ten of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
critically adverb [usually ADVERB adjective, oft ADVERB with verb]
She was critically ill.
A youth was killed and another critically injured.
4. adjective
His report is highly critical of the trial judge. [+ of]
...a few dozen intellectuals who've been critical of the regime.
He has apologised for critical remarks he made about the referee.
critically adverb
She spoke critically of Lara. [+ of]
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
We need to become critical text-readers.
Marx's work was more than a critical study of capitalist production.
...the critical analysis of political ideas.
critically adverb
Wyman watched them critically.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
