1. (n.) The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the decisive moment; the turning point.

2. (n.) That change in a disease which indicates whether the result is to be recovery or death; sometimes, also, a striking change of symptoms attended by an outward manifestation, as by an eruption or sweat.

bench mark boom bottoming out breakers ahead business cycle business fluctuations bust calamity cardhouse cardinal point catastrophe cause for alarm chief thing climacteric climax clutch contingency convergence of events cooling off core cornerstone critical juncture critical moment critical point crossroads crucial period crunch crux danger dangerous ground depression disaster dollar crisis dollar gap downturn economic cycle economic expansion economic growth emergency endangerment essence essential essential matter exigency expanding economy expansion extremity financial crisis fundamental gaping chasm gathering clouds gist gravamen great point growth hazard heart high growth rate high point high pressure hinge house of cards imperativeness imperilment important thing issue jeopardy kernel keystone landmark low main point main thing market expansion material point meat menace milestone nub pass peak peaking peril pinch pith pivot plight predicament press pressure prosperity push quicksand real issue recession recovery risk rocks ahead rub salient point sine qua non slowdown slump storm clouds strait stress substance substantive point tension the bottom line the point thin ice threat turn turning point upturn urgency zero hour