crisis

1. crisis (noun) — sense 1

Definition: A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.

2. crisis (noun) — sense 2

Definition: An unstable situation, in political, social, economic or military affairs, especially one involving an impending abrupt change.

Example: The financial crisis could have been avoided and was the result of poor decision making both in Washington and at top financial firms that fostered a culture of excessive risk taking, according to a draft report written by Democrats on a panel that investigated the meltdown and obtained by Reuters.

3. crisis (noun) — sense 3

Definition: A sudden change in the course of a disease, usually at which point the patient is expected to either recover or die.