View synonyms for critical mass

critical mass

[ krit-i-kuhl mas ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Physics. the amount of a given fissionable material necessary to sustain a chain reaction at a constant rate:
The critical mass for a bomb based on uranium fission is different than that for plutonium fission.
an amount necessary or sufficient to have a significant effect or to achieve a result:
a critical mass of popular support.

critical mass

the minimum mass of fissionable material that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction
the minimum amount of money or number of people required to start or sustain an operation, business, process, etc
the critical mass for a subscription digital sports channel

First recorded in 1940–45

Without a critical mass of media, the politicians can get away with claiming the Atlanta paper has a vendetta against them.

If a critical mass of people is afraid or is convinced to fear, the signal is contagious.

A critical mass of influential figures now demands the GOP act on immigration, one way or the other.

And awareness is the first step in the process of building a critical mass to effectuate change on issues.

With Seacrest, the queue of big-name Miss Havishams in lacy, "nude" boring dresses reached a critical mass.

Too well shielded for the blast to get them, but the heat melted the fissionables down to critical mass.

Claire always knew what to do when his temper started climbing to critical mass.

If only they had a tube of some sort that would withstand the chemical explosion—the one that brought the critical mass together!

First, two or more pieces of plutonium large enough to form a critical mass.

Finally, at perhaps a hundred thousand times critical mass, and still in perfect sync, the Vangs all went off.

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