critical point

SEE SYNONYMS FOR critical point ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Physics. the point at which a substance in one phase, as the liquid, has the same density, pressure, and temperature as in another phase, as the gaseous.
Mathematics.
  1. (of a function of a single variable) a point at which the derivative of the function is zero.
  2. (of a function of several variables) a point at which all partial derivatives of the function are zero.

Origin of critical point

First recorded in 1875–80

Words nearby critical point

critical density, critical mass, critical organ, critical path analysis, critical period, critical point, critical pressure, critical ratio, critical region, critical state, critical temperature

Words related to critical point

climax, crisis, crunch, nexus, pivot, climacteric

British Dictionary definitions for critical point

critical point

noun

physics
  1. the point on a phase diagram that represents the critical state of a substance
  2. another name for critical state
maths the US name for stationary point

Scientific definitions for critical point

critical point

Physics The temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gaseous phases of a pure substance become unstable and fluctuate locally within the substance. The critical point of water is at a temperature of 374°C (705.2°F) and a pressure of 218 atmospheres, at which point it becomes opaque. Compare triple point.
Mathematics
  1. A maximum, minimum, or point of inflection of a curve.
  2. A point at which the derivative of a function is zero, infinite, or undefined.