crit ‧ ic W3 /ˈkrɪtɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ critic , ↑ criticism ; verb : ↑ criticize ; adverb : ↑ critically ≠ ↑ uncritically ; adjective : ↑ critical ≠ ↑ uncritical ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: criticus , from Greek kritikos , from krinein ; ⇨ ↑ criterion ]
1 . someone whose job is to make judgments about the good and bad qualities of art, music, films etc SYN reviewer
music/art/film/theatre/literary critic
a review by the theatre critic of the ‘Sunday Times’
2 . someone who criticizes a person, organization, or idea
critic of
Critics of the scheme have said that it will not solve the problem of teenage crime.
fierce/outspoken critic
an outspoken critic of the government
3 . armchair critic someone who criticizes other people but who does not have any proper experience of the activity the other people are doing
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ types of critic
▪ a film/art/music etc critic
He became the chief music critic for the Herald Tribune.
▪ a literary critic (=of books and other literature)
▪ a theatre critic British English , a theater critcic American English (=of plays)
▪ a restaurant critic (=of the food, service etc in restaurants)
Being a restaurant critic sounds like a glamorous lifestyle.
▪ a social critic (=of human society and its organizations)
Social critics have argued that television viewing decreases people's other social activities.
■ verbs
▪ a critic attacks something
Many critics attacked Seurat’s paintings for their lack of colour.
▪ a critic praises something
The play was highly praised by critics and the public.
▪ a critic hails something/somebody as something (=describes someone or something as very good)
Critics hailed the film as a brilliant portrayal of American society at that time.
▪ a critic pans something ( also a critic slates something British English ) (=criticizes something strongly)
The television series has been panned by critics.