adj.
Pronunciation: ' krü-sh ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: French, from Latin cruc-, crux cross
Date: 1706
1 archaic : CRUCIFORM
2 a : important or essential as resolving a crisis : DECISIVE <a crucial step> b : marked by final determination of a doubtful issue <the crucial game of a series> c : IMPORTANT , SIGNIFICANT <what use we make of them will be the crucial question ― Stanley Kubrick>
synonyms see ACUTE