crucial

1、cruci- + -al.
2、处在一个面临选择的十字路口，需要作出决定性的、重要的选择。

crucial 关键性的

来自cross，十字，分叉口，引申义关键的。

crucial

crucial: see cross

crucial (adj.)

1706, "cross-shaped," from French crucial, a medical term for ligaments of the knee (which cross each other), from Latin crux (genitive crucis) "cross" (see cross (n.)). The meaning "decisive, critical" (1830) is extended from a logical term, Instantias Crucis, adopted by Francis Bacon (1620); the notion is of cross fingerboard signposts at forking roads, thus a requirement to choose.

1. Talent, hard work and sheer tenacity are all crucial to career success.

事业要成功，才能、勤奋和顽强的意志都至关重要。

2. It is crucial that all documents presented are authentic and easily verifiable.

所有提交的文件必须真实且易于查证，这一点很关键。

3. The ability to separate out reusable elements from other waste is crucial.

能从其他废料中分离出可重复利用成分是很关键的。

4. Nothing seems certain in this crucial period in Pakistan's political life.

在巴基斯坦政治历史上的这个紧要关头,一切皆非定数.

5. Look at the false police reports that omitted or misstated crucial facts.

看看这份失实的警方报告吧，它忽略或歪曲了关键的事实。

【critical, crucial, urgent, acute】
这组词都有“严重的，重要的”的意思，其区别是：
critical: a.意为"关键的"，表示处于极度缺乏的状态或事件的转折点，与crucial相似。
• 与crucial的区别在于它对缺乏的或危急的程度有更准确的衡量；还指"批判性的，分析性的"。
• It is critical that you study hard for the exam or you will fail it. 为了考好你必须用功学习，则你会不及格的。
crucial: a.意为"决定性的，紧要关头的，至关重要的"，最为笼统，适用于上述两种情况。
• Improved consumer confidence is crucial to an economic recovery. 消费者信心的增强对经济的复苏是至关重要的。
urgent: a.意为"紧迫的，急迫的，紧要的"，它不强调所指的问题是最重要的，仅强调"紧急的"状态。
• We have an urgent need for help; we are running out of water. 我们急需要帮助，我们的水就快要用光了。
acute: a.剧烈的，严重的；急性的(病)。
• An acute lack of food brought hunger to the Iraqi people. 食品严重缺乏，伊拉克人民正在忍饥挨饿。