criticality
(krɪtɪˈkælɪtɪ)
1. a. The quality of being critical. b. A critical remark, criticism. c. A critical moment, crisis.
| 1756 Gray Lett. Wks. 1884 II. 299 [I] hope to despatch you a packet with my criticalities entire. 1843 Carleton Traits I. 143 At this criticality every eye was turned from the corpse to the murderer. |
2. Nuclear Physics. The state or quality of being critical (see critical a. 7 c). Also attrib.
| 1950 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, AECD 3024 (title) Conditions for criticality in certain types of nuclear reactors, by D. S. Selengut. 1952 Sci. News Let. 20 Dec. 391/3 A pilot reactor..started operation and reached criticality. 1955 Ibid. 16 Apr. 248/1 During these experiments, known as criticality tests, the familiar blue glow of the irradiated fuel elements will be visible under the water. 1956 Sunday Times 14 Oct. 10/2 This miscalculation in the quantity of fuel needed to achieve ‘criticality’ has brought other problems. |