critical mass   n.   The smallest mass of a fissionable material that will sustain a nuclear chain reaction at a constant level. The amount of matter needed to generate sufficient gravitational force to halt the current expansion of the universe. An amount or level needed for a specific result or new action to occur: "The sudden national uproar over drugs and drug abuse has reached politically critical mass in Washington" (Tom Morganthau).

critical mass

In physics, the amount of material that must be present before a chain reaction can sustain itself.

Note: The term critical mass is used to refer generally to the minimum amount of something needed to produce a given effect: “The town needs a critical mass of industry to attract more business.”

critical mass

n. In physics, the minimum amount of fissionable material required to sustain a chain reaction. Of a software product, describes a condition of the software such that fixing one bug introduces one plus epsilon bugs. (This malady has many causes: creeping featurism, ports to too many disparate environments, poor initial design, etc.) When software achieves critical mass, it can never be fixed; it can only be discarded and rewritten.

Critical Mass

A very important or crucial stage in a company's development.

Investopedia Commentary

For example, you might hear that a company has grown to a critical mass where it has the economies of scale to compete globally.

See also: Economies of Scale

critical mass   The smallest mass of a fissionable material that will sustain a nuclear chain reaction. The amount of matter needed to generate sufficient gravitational force to halt the current expansion of the universe. See also big bang, big crunch.

critical mass
In physics, the minimum amount of fissionable material required to sustain a chain reaction. Of a software product, describes a condition of the software such that fixing one bug introduces one plus epsilon bugs. (This malady has many causes: creeping featurism, ports to too many disparate environments, poor initial design, etc.) When software achieves critical mass, it can never be fixed; it can only be discarded and rewritten.
[The Jargon File]
(1994-12-23)