crucial

[ kroo-shuhl ]
/ ˈkru ʃəl /

adjective

involving an extremely important decision or result; decisive; critical: a crucial experiment.
severe; trying.
of the form of a cross; cross-shaped.

Origin of crucial

1700–10; < Latin cruci- (stem of crux) cross + -al1

SYNONYMS FOR crucial

1 momentous, vital, essential, significant.

OTHER WORDS FROM crucial

Words nearby crucial

crst syndrome, crt, crtc, cru, cruces, crucial, crucian, crucian carp, cruciate, cruciate anastomosis, cruciate ligament

British Dictionary definitions for cruciality

crucial
/ (ˈkruːʃəl) /

adjective

involving a final or supremely important decision or event; decisive; critical
informal very important
slang very good

Derived forms of crucial

crucially, adverb

Word Origin for crucial

C18: from French, from Latin crux cross