CRITIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does critic mean? 

• CRITIC (noun)
  The noun CRITIC has 3 senses:

1. a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

2. anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something

3. someone who frequently finds fault or makes harsh and unfair judgments

  Familiarity information: CRITIC used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CRITIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("critic" is a kind of...):

professional; professional person (a person engaged in one of the learned professions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "critic"):

art critic (a critic of paintings)

drama critic; theater critic (a critic of theatrical performances)

literary critic (a critic of literature)

music critic (a critic of musical performances)

newspaper critic (a critic who writes a column for the newspapers)

Instance hyponyms:

Granville-Barker; Harley Granville-Barker (English actor and dramatist and critic and director noted for his productions of Shakespearean plays (1877-1946))

Allen Tate; John Orley Allen Tate; Tate (United States poet and critic (1899-1979))

Derivation:

critical (of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism)

criticize (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

criticize (act as a critic)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("critic" is a kind of...):

evaluator; judge (an authority who is able to estimate worth or quality)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "critic"):

appraiser; authenticator (one who determines authenticity (as of works of art) or who guarantees validity)

grader (a judge who assigns grades to something)

panelist; panellist (a member of a panel)

reader; referee; reviewer (someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication)

sampler; taste-tester; taste tester; taster (someone who samples food or drink for its quality)

Derivation:

critical (characterized by careful evaluation and judgment)

critical (of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism)

criticize (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

criticize (act as a critic)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Someone who frequently finds fault or makes harsh and unfair judgments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("critic" is a kind of...):

disagreeable person; unpleasant person (a person who is not pleasant or agreeable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "critic"):

carper; niggler (someone who constantly criticizes in a petty way)

nitpicker (someone who makes small and unjustified criticisms)

roaster (a harsh or humorous critic (sometimes intended as a facetious compliment))

Derivation:

critical (marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws)

critical (of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism)

criticize (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

criticize (act as a critic)

 Context examples 

The serious critic, with the sense of humour and the power of expression, must inevitably command the world’s ear.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In fact, it was when filled with these thoughts that he wrote his essay entitled "Star-dust," in which he had his fling, not at the principles of criticism, but at the principal critics.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But critics of the research implied the findings were misleading, and urged parents not to worry about whether their child's brain is 'damaged'.

(Too Much Screen Time Changes Structure of Toddlers' Brains, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

An unkind critic might easily have misinterpreted that dim surface.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Now, as I had no theory of any kind, don't believe in Spiritualism, and copied my characters from life, I don't see how this critic can be right.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Critics have claimed that hormones used as growth promotants in cattle may cause breast cancer.

(Melengestrol, NCI Thesaurus)

Friends and critics alike will tell you that you deserve every bit of the adulation you are receiving now.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The Press and the Public are but vague personifications for me, and I must thank them in vague terms; but my Publishers are definite: so are certain generous critics who have encouraged me as only large-hearted and high-minded men know how to encourage a struggling stranger; to them, i.e., to my Publishers and the select Reviewers, I say cordially, Gentlemen, I thank you from my heart.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The worst fault that the critics could find with him was that there was a want of power in his blows—a remark which certainly could not have been made about his neighbour, whose long face, curved nose, and dark, flashing eyes proclaimed him as a member of the same ancient race.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But if I should describe the kitchen grate, the prodigious pots and kettles, the joints of meat turning on the spits, with many other particulars, perhaps I should be hardly believed; at least a severe critic would be apt to think I enlarged a little, as travellers are often suspected to do.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)