Dictionary

tipping point en · NOUN

Etymology

First use of the term appears c. 1959 in the New York Times.

Meanings

1. (broadly, figuratively, qualifier:catastrophe theory) The point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible, often with dramatic consequences.
2. A point in time when a group rapidly and dramatically changes its behavior by widely adopting a previously rare practice.
3. A point in time when a group rapidly and dramatically changes its behavior by widely adopting a previously rare practice. ▸ The point in time at which some new technology becomes mainstream.
4. An irreversible change in the climate system.
   • Some researchers worry that rainforests will soon reach a tipping point — a point of no return in which the once-lush forests transition to arid regions. 2021 June 22, Sam Romano, “Rainforests are under siege. Here’s what you should know.”, in CNN:
   • Climate scientists have detected warning signs of the collapse of the Gulf Stream, one of the planet’s main potential tipping points. 2021 August 5, Damian Carrington, “Climate crisis: Scientists spot warning signs of Gulf Stream collapse”, in The Guardian:
   • It is a scenario climate scientists have feared since first identifying "tipping points" - delicate thresholds where a slight rise in the Earth's temperature can cause a dramatic change in the environment that itself triggers a far greater increase in global temperatures. 2005 August 11, Ian Sample, “Warming hits 'tipping point'”, in The Guardian:

Forms

Coordinates

tipping element

Deriveds

tipping-point state

Relateds

catastrophe theory · turning point · critical point

Translations (16)

fr point critique (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · cmn 引爆點 /引爆点 (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · fr point de bascule (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · de Wendepunkt (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · pt ponto de inflexão (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · pl punkt krytyczny (irreversible change in the climate system) · es punto de inflexión (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · is hvarfpunktur (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · cmn 臨界點 /临界点 (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · fi keikahduspiste (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · es momento crítico (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · ro punct critic (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · pl punkt zwrotny (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · de Kipppunkt (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible) · de Klimakipppunkt (irreversible change in the climate system) · bg повратна точка (the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible)

wikipedia: New York Times