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1. (n.) critical mass
the amount of a given fissionable material necessary to sustain a chain reaction.
2. critical mass
an amount necessary or sufficient to have a significant effect or to achieve a result.
Etymology: (1940–45)
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| Definition of 'critical mass' |
Princeton's WordNet |
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1. (noun) critical mass
the minimum amount (of something) required to start or maintain a venture
"the battle for the computer market has now reached critical mass"; "there is now a critical mass of successful women to take the lead"; "they sold the business because it lacked critical mass"
2. (noun) critical mass
the minimum mass of fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction
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| Definitions of 'critical mass' |
The New Hacker's Dictionary |
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1. 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.
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| Definition of 'critical mass' |
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms |
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1. critical mass
The minimum amount of fissionable material capable of supporting a chain reaction under precisely specified conditions.
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| Alternative search options for 'critical mass' |
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Definitions of critical mass 
