crisis

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

cri·sis (krīʹsĭs)n. pl. cri·ses (-sēz)
1.
a. A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.
b. An unstable condition, as in political, social, or economic affairs, involving an impending abrupt or decisive change.
2. A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward either improvement or deterioration.
3. An emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person's life.
4. A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved. [Middle English, from Latin, judgment, from Greek krisis, from krīnein, to separate, judge. See krei- in Indo-European Roots.] 
Synonyms: crisis, crossroad, exigency, head, juncture, pass
These nouns denote a critical point or state of affairs: a military crisis; government policy at the crossroad; had predicted the health-care exigency; a problem that is coming to a head; negotiations that had reached a crucial juncture; things rapidly coming to a desperate pass.