critical mass

critical mass

n.

1. The smallest mass of a fissionable material that will sustain a nuclear chain reaction at a constant level.

2. The total mass of matter needed to generate sufficient gravitational force to halt the current expansion of the universe.

3. An amount or level needed for a specific result or new action to occur: "[Plastic bags are] so nearly weightless that it's difficult to gather enough of a critical mass to make recycling them economically worthwhile" (Susan Freinkel).

critical mass

n

1. (Nuclear Physics) the minimum mass of fissionable material that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction

2. 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.

crit′ical mass′

n.

1. the amount of a given fissionable material necessary to sustain a chain reaction.

2. an amount necessary or sufficient to have a significant effect or to achieve a result.

[1940–45]

critical mass

The minimum amount of fissionable material capable of supporting a chain reaction under precisely specified conditions.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	critical mass - the minimum amount (of something) required to start or maintain a venture; "the battle for the computer market has now reached critical mass"; "there is now a critical mass of successful women to take the lead"; "they sold the business because it lacked critical mass" amount - the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion; "an adequate amount of food for four people"
	2.	critical mass - the minimum mass of fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction mass - the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

Translations

masse critique

критическая масса

critical mass

n (Phys) → kritische Masse; (fig) → Mindestanforderung f; to reach critical mass (fig) → einen kritischen Punkt erreichen