Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Criticism \Crit"i*cism\ (kr?t"?-s?z'm), n.
   1. The rules and principles which regulate the practice of
      the critic; the art of judging with knowledge and
      propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary
      performance, or of a production in the fine arts; as,
      dramatic criticism.

            The elements ofcriticism depend on the two
            principles of Beauty and Truth, one of which is the
            final end or object of study in every one of its
            pursuits: Beauty, in letters and the arts; Truth, in
            history and sciences.                 --Brande & C.

            By criticism, as it was first instituted by
            Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or
      expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination
      and review; a critique; animadversion; censure.

            About the plan of ``Rasselas'' little was said by
            the critics; and yet the faults of the plan might
            seem to invite severe criticism.      --Macaulay.

Source : WordNet®

criticism
     n 1: disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or
          shortcomings; "the senator received severe criticism
          from his opponent" [syn: {unfavorable judgment}]
     2: a serious examination and judgment of something;
        "constructive criticism is always appreciated" [syn: {critique}]
     3: a written evaluation of a work of literature [syn: {literary
        criticism}]