verb + criticism : attract, draw, face, spark; direct, level, voice; deflect, dismiss, reject SYNONYMS criticism NOUN 1
censure: It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure.
disapprovaclass="underline" His action had been greeted with almost universal disapproval.
disparagement: Reviewers have been almost unanimous in their disparagement of this book.
denigration: …the denigration of minorities in this country.
criti|cize ◆◇◇ /kr I t I sa I z/ (criticizes , criticizing , criticized ) in BRIT, also use criticise VERB If you criticize someone or something, you express your disapproval of them by saying what you think is wrong with them. □ [V n] His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children. □ [V n + for ] The minister criticised the police for failing to come up with any leads.
cri|tique /kr I tiː k/ (critiques ) N‑COUNT A critique is a written examination and judgment of a situation or of a person's work or ideas. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] She had brought a book, a feminist critique of Victorian lady novelists.
crit|ter /kr I tə r / (critters ) N‑COUNT A critter is a living creature. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ …little furry critters.
croak /kroʊ k/ (croaks , croaking , croaked )
1 VERB When a frog or bird croaks , it makes a harsh, low sound. □ [V ] Thousands of frogs croaked in the reeds by the riverbank. ● N‑COUNT Croak is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the guttural croak of the frogs.
2 VERB If someone croaks something, they say it in a low, rough voice. □ [V with quote] Tiller moaned and managed to croak, 'Help me.'. □ [V n] She croaked something unintelligible. ● N‑COUNT Croak is also a noun. □ His voice was just a croak.
croaky /kroʊ ki/ ADJ If someone's voice is croaky , it is low and rough.
cro|chet /kroʊ ʃe I , [AM ] kroʊʃe I / (crochets , crocheting , crocheted )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Crochet is a way of making cloth out of cotton or wool by using a needle with a small hook at the end. □ …a black crochet waistcoat.
2 VERB If you crochet , you make cloth by using a needle with a small hook at the end. □ [V ] She offered to teach me to crochet. □ [V n] Ma and I crocheted new quilts. □ [V -ed] …crocheted rugs.
crock /krɒ k/ (crocks )
1 N‑COUNT A crock is a clay pot or jar. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as an old crock , you mean that they are old and weak. [BRIT , INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you describe what someone has said as a crock , you mean that you think it is foolish, wrong, or untrue. [mainly AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
crock|ery /krɒ kəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Crockery is the plates, cups, saucers, and dishes that you use at meals. [mainly BRIT ] □ We had no fridge, cooker, cutlery or crockery.
croco|dile /krɒ kəda I l/ (crocodiles ) N‑COUNT A crocodile is a large reptile with a long body and strong jaws. Crocodiles live in rivers and eat meat.
cro co|dile tea rs N‑PLURAL If someone is crying crocodile tears , their tears and sadness are not genuine or sincere. □ The sight of George shedding crocodile tears made me sick.
cro|cus /kroʊ kəs/ (crocuses ) N‑COUNT Crocuses are small white, yellow, or purple flowers that are grown in parks and gardens in the early spring.
croft /krɒ ft, [AM ] krɔː ft/ (crofts ) N‑COUNT In Scotland, a croft is a small piece of land which is owned and farmed by one family and which provides them with food. □ …a remote croft near Loch Nevis.
croft|er /krɒ ftə r , [AM ] krɔː ft-/ (crofters ) N‑COUNT In Scotland, a crofter is a person who lives on a croft or small farm.
croft|ing /krɒ ft I ŋ, [AM ] krɔː ft-/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] In Scotland, crofting is the activity of farming on small pieces of land. □ …isolated crofting communities.
crois|sant /kwæ sɒn, [AM ] kwɑːsɑː n/ (croissants ) N‑VAR Croissants are small, sweet bread rolls in the shape of a crescent that are eaten for breakfast. □ …coffee and croissants.
crone /kroʊ n/ (crones ) N‑COUNT A crone is an ugly old woman. [LITERARY ]
cro|ny /kroʊ ni/ (cronies ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] You can refer to friends that someone spends a lot of time with as their cronies , especially when you disapprove of them. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He returned from a lunchtime drinking session with his business cronies.
cro|ny|ism /kroʊ ni I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT If you accuse someone in authority of cronyism , you mean that they use their power or authority to get jobs for their friends. [JOURNALISM , DISAPPROVAL ]
crook /krʊ k/ (crooks , crooking , crooked )
1 N‑COUNT A crook is a dishonest person or a criminal. [INFORMAL ] □ The man is a crook and a liar.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The crook of your arm or leg is the soft inside part where you bend your elbow or knee. □ [+ of ] She hid her face in the crook of her arm.
3 VERB If you crook your arm or finger, you bend it. □ [V n] He crooked his finger: 'Come forward,' he said.
4 N‑COUNT A crook is a long pole with a large hook at the end. A crook is carried by a bishop in religious ceremonies, or by a shepherd. □ …a shepherd's crook.