Crisis definition | Dictionary.com

cri⋅sis

[krahy-sis]

noun, plural -ses [-seez]

,
adjective

–noun

1.	a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.

2.	a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.

3.	a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life.

Medicine/Medical.

a.	the point in the course of a serious disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading either to recovery or to death.

b.	the change itself.

5.	the point in a play or story at which hostile elements are most tensely opposed to each other.

–adjective

6.	of, referring to, or for use in dealing with a crisis.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L < Gk krísis decision, equiv. to kri- var. s. of kr

nein to decide, separate, judge + -sis -sis

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Crisis

Spanish:

crisis, momento crítico,

German:

die Krisis,

Japanese:

危期

View 29 other languages »

cri·sis (krī'sĭs) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. cri·ses (-sēz)

1. A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.
2. An unstable condition, as in political, social, or economic affairs, involving an impending abrupt or decisive change.
A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward either improvement or deterioration.
An emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person's life.
A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved.

[Middle English, from Latin, judgment, from Greek krisis, from krīnein, to separate, judge; see krei- in Indo-European roots.]

Synonyms: These nouns denote a critical point or state of affairs: a military crisis; government policy at the crossroad; had predicted the health-care exigency; a problem that is coming to a head; negotiations that had reached a crucial juncture; things rapidly coming to a desperate pass.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crisis

c.1425, from Gk. krisis "turning point in a disease" (used as such by Hippocrates and Galen), lit. "judgment," from krinein "to separate, decide, judge," from PIE base *krei- "to sieve, discriminate, distinguish" (cf. Gk. krinesthai "to explain;" O.E. hriddel "sieve;" L. cribrum "sieve," crimen "judgment, crime," cernere (pp. cretus) "to sift, separate;" O.Ir. criathar, O.Welsh cruitr "sieve;" M.Ir. crich "border, boundary"). Transferred non-medical sense is 1627. A Ger. term for "mid-life crisis" is Torschlusspanik, lit. "shut-door-panic," fear of being on the wrong side of a closing gate.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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crisis
noun
1.	an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty; "they went bankrupt during the economic crisis"
2.	a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something; "after the crisis the patient either dies or gets better"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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crisis cri·sis (krī'sĭs)
n. pl. cri·ses (-sēz)

A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward either improvement or deterioration.
An emotionally stressful event or a traumatic change in one's life.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Main Entry: cri·sis
Pronunciation: 'krI-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural cri·ses /-"sEz/
1 : the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever; especially : a sudden turn for the better (as sudden abatement in severity of symptoms or abrupt drop intemperature) —compare LYSIS 1
2 : a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered functioncrisis> crisis>
3 : an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life
4 : apsychological or social condition characterized by unusual instability caused by excessive stress and either endangering or felt to endanger the continuity of an individual or group; especially : such a social condition requiring the transformation of cultural patterns and values

Crisis

Cri"sis\ (kr?"s?s), n.; pl. Crises (-s?z). [L. crisis, Gr. ????, fr. ???? to separate. See Certain.]

1. The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the decisive moment; the turning point.

This hour's the very crisis of your fate. --Dryden.

The very times of crisis for the fate of the country. --Brougham.

2. (Med.) That change in a disease which indicates whether the result is to be recovery or death; sometimes, also, a striking change of symptoms attended by an outward manifestation, as by an eruption or sweat.

Till some safe crisis authorize their skill. --Dryden.

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