critical
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++crit·i·cal /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/ ●●○ S3 W2 adjective 1 MAKING SEVERE JUDGMENTSCRITICIZEcriticizing 批评 if you are critical, you criticize someone or something 批评的，批判的critical of Many economists are critical of the government’s economic policies. 许多经济学家批评政府的经济政策。 Many parents are strongly critical of the school. 许多家长对这所学校提出了强烈的批评。 He made some highly critical remarks. 他发表了一些严厉的批判性言论。2 IMPORTANTIMPORTANTimportant 重要的 something that is critical is very important because what happens in the future depends on it 紧要的，关键性的 SYN crucialcritical to These talks are critical to the future of the peace process. 这些谈判对和平进程的前景至关重要。 It is absolutely critical for us to know the truth. 我们知道真相是极其重要的。 Foreign trade is of critical importance to the economy. 外贸对经济而言非常重要。3 DANGEROUS/UNCERTAINSERIOUS SITUATIONserious/worrying 严重的/令人担心的 a critical time or situation is serious and worrying because things might suddenly become much worse 严重的，危急的 The fighting has stopped, but the situation is still critical. 战斗已经停止，但形势依然严峻。 changes that took place during the critical period at the end of the war 战争临近结束的关键时期内所发生的变化► see thesaurus at serious4 ill 生病的 so ill that you might die 〔病情〕危急的 He is still in a critical condition in hospital. 他在医院里，病情仍然危急。 She is in intensive care, where she remains critical but stable. 她在接受特别护理，病情危急但稳定。5 the critical list a) the list of patients in a hospital who are so ill that they might die 病危名单on the critical list Two of the victims were still on the critical list Sunday night. 星期日晚上仍有两名受害人病危。take somebody off the critical list He was taken off the critical list and is now in a stable condition. 他已经脱离危险，现在病情稳定。 b) if a system, plan, company etc is on the critical list, it is having severe problems and might fail soon 〔体系、计划、公司等〕问题严重，即将失败，岌岌可危6 MAKING FAIR JUDGMENTSJUDGEmaking judgments 作出判断 making careful judgments about how good or bad something is 判断审慎的，评判严谨的 His book provides a critical analysis of the television industry in Britain. 他的书对英国的电视行业作了审慎的分析。 She looked round the room with a critical eye. 她以评判的眼光环视房间。7 ART/FILM/BOOKS ETCAART/CULTUREart/literature 艺术/文学 according to critics who give judgments about art, films, theatre, and books 评论性的 The book came out last year to great critical acclaim (=critics said it was very good). 这本书去年出版，受到高度评价。 Her first play was a critical success (=critics said it was good). 她的第一部剧本受到好评。Examples from the Corpus
critical• The article is a critical analysis of Faulkner's novels.• The situation is said to be critical and the army has been brought in to disperse the mob.• Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.• And within a few years after Keynes, the level of production became the critical factor in war mobilization.• The next few months could be critical for the whole mining industry.• But as an activist, I knew how critical her work was.• Things are now critical. Hospitals have no medicine, and people are running out of food.• Shortening product life cycles and rapid product proliferation mean that investment in innovation is critical in global competition.• We need an immediate decision on this critical issue.• It therefore rejected empiricism and was particularly critical of utilitarianism.• These accusations came at a critical phase in the negotiations.• Critical remarks by a teacher can damage the confidence of children.• The government has just published a highly critical report on the state of the education system.• Stan is at a critical stage in his recovery from the accident.• The density of the landfall was critical to calculating at what moment the dam would capitulate.• The policies which are adopted are important, but the means by which they are implemented will be critical to their effectiveness.• How did he survive such a critical wound?critical of• Dillard is very critical of the plan to reorganize the company.critical to• This next phase is critical to the project's success.in a critical condition• He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.• His twin brother, who was airlifted to hospital with him, is in a critical condition.• The next day, Easley was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition.• The three most seriously injured children were still in critical condition.• Two of the wounded are in critical condition, hospital officials said.• Dozens of people were injured and at least 13 were in critical condition last night.• Two of the burns victims were in a critical condition last night.with a critical eye• Go through your whole list with a critical eye.• The seneschal stopped, looking at the work being done with a critical eye.• They would be able to read with a critical eye and thus speak and write with more authority.• He stopped on the top stair and with a critical eye surveyed the neighbor-hood.to ... critical acclaim• Between 1907 and 1942 Freeman produced forty Thorndyke short stories and twenty-one Thorndyke novels, to great critical acclaim.crit·i·cal adjectiveChineseSyllable
Corpus someone something are you critical, you if or criticize
critical
crit‧i‧cal S3 W2 /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
adjective
critical of
Many economists are critical of the government’s economic policies.
Many parents are strongly critical of the school.
He made some highly critical remarks.
2. IMPORTANT something that is critical is very important because what happens in the future depends on it
SYN crucial
critical to
These talks are critical to the future of the peace process.
It is absolutely critical for us to know the truth.
Foreign trade is of critical importance to the economy.
3. SERIOUS/WORRYING a critical time or situation is serious and worrying because things might suddenly become much worse:
The fighting has stopped, but the situation is still critical.
changes that took place during the critical period at the end of the war
4. ILL so ill that you might die:
He is still in a critical condition in hospital.
She is in intensive care, where she remains critical but stable.
5. the critical list
a. the list of patients in a hospital who are so ill that they might die
on the critical list
Two of the victims were still on the critical list Sunday night.
take somebody off the critical list
He was taken off the critical list and is now in a stable condition.
b. if a system, plan, company etc is on the critical list, it is having severe problems and might fail soon
6. MAKING JUDGMENTS making careful judgments about how good or bad something is:
His book provides a critical analysis of the television industry in Britain.
She looked round the room with a critical eye.
7. ART/LITERATURE according to critics who give judgments about art, films, theatre, and books:
The book came out last year to great critical acclaim (=critics said it was very good).
Her first play was a critical success (=critics said it was good).
■ very bad
▪serious very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes: Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital. | The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. | Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.
▪severe very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses: He suffered severe injuries in a car crash. | The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries. | severe epilepsy
▪grave used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse: A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger. | The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.
▪acute used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly: She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis. | In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
▪desperate used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help: The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in. | The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
▪critical used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly: In 1991, the food supply situation became critical. | Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
▪life-threatening used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die: Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness. | The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.
▪be a matter of life and death spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important: For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.
crit‧i‧cal S3 W2 /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
adjective Word Family: noun: critic, criticism; verb: criticize; adverb: critically ≠ uncritically; adjective: critical ≠ uncritical
1. CRITICIZING if you are critical, you criticize someone or somethingcritical of
2. IMPORTANT something that is critical is very important because what happens in the future depends on it
SYN crucial
critical to
3. SERIOUS/WORRYING a critical time or situation is serious and worrying because things might suddenly become much worse:
4. ILL so ill that you might die:
5. the critical list
a. the list of patients in a hospital who are so ill that they might die
on the critical list
take somebody off the critical list
b. if a system, plan, company etc is on the critical list, it is having severe problems and might fail soon
6. MAKING JUDGMENTS making careful judgments about how good or bad something is:
7. ART/LITERATURE according to critics who give judgments about art, films, theatre, and books:
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essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it sth cannot exist, be made or be successful 指极其重要的、完全必要的、必不可少的 ：◆ Experience is essential for this job. 对于这个工作，经验是非常重要的。 vital essential 指极其重要的、完全必要的、必不可少的 ：◆ The police play a vital role in our society. 警察在我们的社会中起着极其重要的作用。
essential or vital? 用 essential 还是 vital？
crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it 指至关重要的、关键的 ：◆ It is crucial that we get this right. 我们把这个问题弄明白是极其重要的。 critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it 指至关重要的、关键的 ：◆ Your decision is critical to our future. 你的决定对我们的将来至关重要。
crucial or critical? 用 crucial 还是 critical？
decisive of the greatest importance in affecting the final result of a particular situation 指决定性的、关键的 ：◆ She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations. 她在和谈中起了关键作用。 indispensable essential; too important to be without 指必需的、不可或缺的 ：◆ Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives. 汽车已成了我们生活中必不可少的一部分。
Patterns
essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for sthessential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to sthessential/vital/crucial/critical that… essential/vital/crucial/critical to do sth a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/factor of vital/crucial/critical/decisiveimportance absolutely essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable