critical state
1
6.6
- noun
:
estado crítico
- The city's infrastructure is in a critical state and needs urgent repairs.
Examples
-
Day by day, the people's strong dissatisfaction approaches an increasingly critical state.
Academic text (1990) -
The nine case studies examined in this article point to three broad forces that are pushing many regions throughout the world toward a critical state.
Academic text (1996) -
This makes it all the more difficult to identify the general conditions and trends that lead a region toward the critical state.
Academic text (1996) -
In 2010, the National Water Authority identified 244 social conflicts related to water resources, 22 of which were in a "critical state."
Academic text (2012) -
Government institutions often misjudge the critical state of technological diffusion on tribal lands, citing a lack of reliable data.
Academic text (2007) -
As of 1996, nine Puget Sound stocks were classified as healthy/moderately healthy, four were in a depressed or critical state, and information was insufficient for five.
Academic text (2000) -
And, across the swing state battleground, the shift to Obama remains pronounced, save for one critical state—Nevada.
Blog text (23) -
The critical state of reading proficiency for middle grades students has increased the focus on reading, and especially the reading comprehension, of older students (Lesaux & Kieffer, 2010; Pressley, 2004; Snow, Martin, & Berman, 2008).
Academic text (2012) -
After the earthquake, many buildings were left in a critical state, requiring immediate evacuation.
-
The ongoing drought has put the agricultural sector in a critical state, endangering food supply.
Synonyms
∞
3.1
A very dangerous or difficult time when quick decisions are needed
41
3.6
A situation when a government can use special powers after a disaster or riot
Antonyms
How Urgent
∞
1.3
∞
3.1
1
6.6
41
3.0
263
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase's meaning is directly compositional: 'critical' (extremely important/dangerous) modifies 'state' (condition), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a condition requiring urgent attention. This NP follows standard adjective+noun composition found across languages, making the sense immediately predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Critical state started in medicine, where doctors used critical to name a moment when a patient's condition could suddenly change and the state could decide life or death. So critical state now means a very important, often 'urgent' condition that needs quick action.