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Critical point

 - 2 dictionary results

critical point

 
Use Critical point in a Sentence
–noun
1. Physics. the point at which a substance in one phase, as the liquid, has the same density, pressure, and temperature as in another phase, as the gaseous.
2. Mathematics.
a. (of a function of a single variable) a point at which the derivative of the function is zero.
b. (of a function of several variables) a point at which all partial derivatives of the function are zero.
Origin:
1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Critical point
critical point  
n.  

  1. Physics The temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gaseous phases of a pure stable substance become identical. Also called critical state.

  2. Mathematics

    1. A maximum, minimum, or point of inflection of a curve.

    2. A point at which the derivative of a function is zero, infinite, or undefined.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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