crucial

[ kroo-shuhl ]
See synonyms for: crucialcrucially on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. involving an extremely important decision or result; decisive; critical: a crucial experiment.

  2. severe; trying.

  1. of the form of a cross; cross-shaped.

Origin of crucial

1
First recorded in 1700–10; from Latin cruci- (stem of crux cross ) + -al1

Other words for crucial

Other words from crucial

  • cru·ci·al·i·ty [kroo-shee-al-i-tee, kroo-shal-], /ˌkru ʃiˈæl ɪ ti, kruˈʃæl-/, noun
  • cru·cial·ly, adverb
  • non·cru·cial, adjective
  • non·cru·cial·ly, adverb
  • pre·cru·cial, adjective

Words Nearby crucial

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How to use crucial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crucial

crucial

/ (ˈkruːʃəl) /


adjective
  1. involving a final or supremely important decision or event; decisive; critical

  2. informal very important

  1. slang very good

Origin of crucial

1
C18: from French, from Latin crux cross

Derived forms of crucial

  • crucially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012