critical (KRI ti kuhl) adj. 1. inclined to find fault; censorious; 2. characterized
by close dissection, analysis, and judgment; 3. of critics or criticism; 4. decisive;
- dangerous or risky
- A teacher’s job is to be criticalof his/her students’ work.
•A criticalstudy of the factory plans found flaws in them. - The criticalcommunity was wowed by your performance.
- This military situation calls for immediate criticalaction.
- Following the surgery, Miranda was in criticalcondition.
[-ly adv.]
criticism(KRIT I si zim) n.1. the act of judging; analyzing qualities and com-
paring relative worth; 2. a review, comment, article, etc. expressing an evaluation;
- A teacher’s job is to be criticalof his/her students’ work.
- the act of finding fault; censure; disapproval
- Criticismof the merits of the two teams left no doubt that the Yankees
were superior to the 7th Grade Allstars.
•A criticismof current investment strategies appeared in yesterday’s Wall
Street Journal. - Judge Maxine’s ruling in the dog-bite case drew much criticism.
criticize(KRIT i SYZ) vi., vt.1. to evaluate as a critic; 2. to judge disapprovingly;
to find fault with - Reporters from all media came early to get the opportunity to view and to
criticizethe new Egyptology exhibit. - Given the ballplayer’s haughty attitude, it was not surprising that the
local fans took the opportunity to criticizeevery imperfect move that
he made.
[-d, criticizing]
crucial(KROO shil) adj. 1. of extreme importance; decisive; critical; 2. (medicine)
in the form of a cross
- Criticismof the merits of the two teams left no doubt that the Yankees
At the first sign of a tick, Lois made the crucial decision to take her German
shepherd, Libby, to the vet.
Vince’s appendectomy scar was crucial,like the letter x.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. acute]
cultural*(KUL choer il) adj.1. relating to culture (developing, improving, and
refining the arts, intellect, interests, tastes, skills, etc.); 2. pertaining to a certain
culture; 3. gotten by breeding or cultivation
- Gracie decided to get tickets to the Philharmonic as part of her concerted
effort at culturalself-improvement. - A fondness for drinking ouzo is a Greek culturalthing.
- The “jug” is a culturalphenomenon obtained by crossing a pug with a Jack
Russell terrier.
curator*(KYUR ay ter) n.1. someone in charge of a museum, library, etc.;
- a guardian or caretaker, as of a minor
- The curatorof documents is in charge of the archives.
- Bruce Wayne is Dick Grayson’s curator, in an artful way.
70 Essential Vocabulary