critical state

[ krit-i-kuhl steyt ]

noun

, Physics.

1. the state of a pure element or compound when it is at a critical point:

   critical states of superconductor multilayers.

critical state

noun

1. the state of a substance in which two of its phases have the same temperature, pressure, and volume Also calledcritical point

critical state

1. The state of matter of a substance at its critical point.

Word History and Origins

Origin of critical state¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

In Arizona, another critical state, the stakes have never felt higher for Mohyeddin Abdulaziz, a Palestinian American lawyer and the co-founder of the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance.

From Slate

On Sunday, Harris was in Philadelphia, the largest city in the critical state of Pennsylvania.

From Los Angeles Times

Of even bigger concern was that the same internal polling showed Kamala Harris down 3 points in Wisconsin, a critical state in Harris’ Electoral College math.

From Slate

Here are some takeaways from the Republicans’ four-day convention, which was held in the critical state of Wisconsin, whose voters could determine who wins the White House, and concluded late Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

Higher temperatures, extreme weather, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels -- all indicators that the climate and the world's ice masses are in a critical state.

From Science Daily