Critique - noun or verb?

Kado · Nov 27, 2011

I always thought critique was a noun and not to be used as a verb. I've noticed people on AW using it as a verb. Seems the online dictionaries contradict one another (and my trusty hardback dictionary is packed away in a box after moving house). What are people's thoughts on this?

Fallen · Nov 27, 2011

My trusted Oxford dictionary puts it as both, hun:

Critique:
n. detailed analysis and assessment
v. (critiques, critiqued, critiquing) evaluate in a detailed and analytical way.

Does that help?

Kado · Nov 27, 2011

Ah, thank you. The Oxford says that? OK then. That's my trusty hardback that I have packed away, so I'm glad you had yours to hand.

Looks like I've been behind the times.

alleycat · Nov 27, 2011

At least in the US, it's been used as a verb for a long time. When I was in architecture school many years ago we would critique each other's designs.

bonitakale · Nov 27, 2011

It's kind of a silly verb, but "criticize" is used negatively ("Are you criticizing my choice of clothing?"), so "critique" is useful to make it plain that a more or less unbiased criticism is meant.

Snick · Nov 27, 2011

It definitely is both.

Critique - noun or verb?

Kado

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

Kado

alleycat

Still around

bonitakale

Snick