1580s, "censorious," from critic + -al (1). Meaning "pertaining to criticism" is from 1741; medical sense is from c. 1600; meaning "of the nature of a crisis" is from 1640s; that of "crucial" is from 1841, from the "decisive" sense in Latin criticus. Related: Criticality (1756; in the nuclear sense, 1950); critically (1650s, "accurately;" 1815, "in a critical situation"). In nuclear science, critical mass is attested from 1940.
双语例句
1. I gather his report is highly critical of the trial judge.
据我所知，他在报道中毫不留情地批评了初审法官。
来自柯林斯例句
2. I hated my father. He was hyper-critical and mean.
我讨厌我父亲。他吹毛求疵，刻薄无情。
来自柯林斯例句
3. If someone says something critical I take it to heart.
如果有人提出批评，我会十分介意。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The paper is openly critical of the strong-arm president.
该报纸对这位铁腕总统进行公开的批评。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Environmentalists say a critical factor in the city's pollution is its population.