qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions.-pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation.-inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious.-inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting.-characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as becomes a critic; as, a critical analysis of a subject.-pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture; important as regards consequences; hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the critical stage of a fever; a critical situation.