释义 |
criticality|krɪtɪˈkælɪtɪ| 1. a. The quality of being critical. b. A critical remark, criticism. c. A critical moment, crisis.
1756Gray Lett. Wks. 1884 II. 299 [I] hope to despatch you a packet with my criticalities entire. 1843Carleton 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.
1950U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, AECD 3024 (title) Conditions for criticality in certain types of nuclear reactors, by D. S. Selengut. 1952Sci. News Let. 20 Dec. 391/3 A pilot reactor..started operation and reached criticality. 1955Ibid. 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. 1956Sunday Times 14 Oct. 10/2 This miscalculation in the quantity of fuel needed to achieve ‘criticality’ has brought other problems. |