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# critical

adjective (critical; more critical, most critical)

«critical» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Saying what is bad or wrong about someone or something; finding fault: «She was critical of my drawing». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#m1)
2. Very important, because what happens next depends on it: «a critical moment», «critical information». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#m2)
3. (health) Very ill or badly hurt and in danger of dying: «in a critical condition». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#m3)
4. Thinking carefully and judging fairly using evidence: «critical thinking». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#m4)
5. Giving expert judgement about books, films or art: «The film got critical praise». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#m5)
6. (science) At the exact point where something changes: «critical temperature», «critical mass». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#m6)

### In the lessons

In school, «critical thinking» means questioning claims, checking evidence and not believing everything you read online. In news and hospital stories, «critical condition» means very serious. In science, a «critical point» is where a big change happens. In everyday talk, being «too critical» of friends can hurt feelings, so feedback should be kind and helpful. Phrases: «critical of», «critical thinking», «critical condition», «critical moment», «critically important», «critical acclaim».

### Examples

- Don't be so critical of your little brother; he's trying his best. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x1)
- Good critical thinking means checking where information comes from. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x2)
- The man was taken to hospital in a critical condition. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x3)
- The next five minutes of the match are critical. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x4)
- Water is critical for life on Earth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x5)
- The book received critical acclaim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x6)
- In science we learned that a dam has a critical water level. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x7)
- It is critical that you wash your hands before cooking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x8)
- However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her head. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/#x9)

### Note

Two different families of meaning: «finding fault» and «extremely important». Context tells you which. The noun «critic» is a person who judges (a film critic); «criticism» is the act of criticising; the verb is «criticise» (UK) or «criticize» (US). «Critical» and «crucial» both mean very important. Constructive criticism is helpful and kind; it does not just say «it's bad».

## In Jewish tradition

In school, «critical thinking» means questioning claims, checking evidence and not believing everything you read online. In news and hospital stories, «critical condition» means very serious. In science, a «critical point» is where a big change happens. In everyday talk, being «too critical» of friends can hurt feelings, so feedback should be kind and helpful. Phrases: «critical of», «critical thinking», «critical condition», «critical moment», «critically important», «critical acclaim».

### Examples

- As such a view is entirely re- pugnant to the modern critical raind, some writers regard this closing Mishnah as a later interpolation. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/critical/#x1)

### Note

Two different families of meaning: «finding fault» and «extremely important». Context tells you which. The noun «critic» is a person who judges (a film critic); «criticism» is the act of criticising; the verb is «criticise» (UK) or «criticize» (US). «Critical» and «crucial» both mean very important. Constructive criticism is helpful and kind; it does not just say «it's bad».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «critical» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/critical/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«critical» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/critical.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «critical» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/critical/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«critical» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/critical.html) on Mova free.