1. (a.) Relating to a climacteric; critical.

2. (n.) A period in human life in which some great change is supposed to take place in the constitution. The critical periods are thought by some to be the years produced by multiplying 7 into the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9; to which others add the 81st year.

3. (n.) Any critical period.

change of life charged clutch convergence of events crisis critical critical juncture critical point crossroads crucial crucial period crunch decisive desperate dire emergency emergent exigency exigent extremity grand climacteric hinge kairotic loaded menopause pass pinch pivotal pregnant push rub strait turn turning point