| English Dictionary |
VITAL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does vital mean?
• VITAL (adjective)
The adjective VITAL has 4 senses:
1. urgently needed; absolutely necessary
2. performing an essential function in the living body
3. full of spirit; full of life
4. manifesting or characteristic of life
Familiarity information: VITAL used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Urgently needed; absolutely necessary
Synonyms:
critical; vital
Context example:
of vital interest
Similar:
indispensable (not to be dispensed with; essential)
Derivation:
vitalness (the quality possessed by something that you cannot possibly do without)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Performing an essential function in the living body
Synonyms:
life-sustaining; vital
Context example:
life-giving love and praise
Similar:
essential (basic and fundamental)
Derivation:
vitality ((biology) a hypothetical force (not physical or chemical) once thought by Henri Bergson to cause the evolution and development of organisms)
vitalness (the quality of being essential to maintain life)
vitalness (the quality possessed by something that you cannot possibly do without)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Full of spirit; full of life
Synonyms:
lively; vital
Context example:
this whole lively world
Similar:
alive; animated (having life or vigor or spirit)
Derivation:
vitality (an energetic style)
vitality (the property of being able to survive and grow)
vitality (a healthy capacity for vigorous activity)
vitalize (make more lively or vigorous)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Manifesting or characteristic of life
Context example:
vital signs
Similar:
Derivation:
vitality (the property of being able to survive and grow)
vitalize (give life to)
vitalness (the quality of being essential to maintain life)
Context examples
The diet itself appears to have played a vital role in this process, as mice that were subjected to a water-only fast didn’t experience the same degree of benefits.
(Fasting-Like Diets May Reverse Gut Inflammation, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
In addition to their well-deserved reputation as beautiful cosmic objects, comets hold vital clues about our solar system's history.
(Rosetta's 'Philae' Makes Historic First Landing on a Comet, NASA)
The study of the chemical substances and vital processes occurring in living organisms.
(Biochemistry, NCI Thesaurus)
The study of similarities and differences of the vital processes of different organisms.
(Comparative Physiology, NCI Thesaurus)
While Arc is known to play a vital role in the brain’s ability to store new information, little is known about precisely how it works.
(Memory gene goes viral, National Institutes of Health)
It's vital nutrition, like a vitamin,” Messing said.
(US Researchers Genetically Modify Corn to Boost Nutritional Value, VOA News)
Yet to me it is vital reality.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
This means April and the first half of May will be vital weeks for you!
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
A decrease in the fraction of the forced vital capacity that is exhaled in a specific number of seconds.
(Decreased Forced Expiratory Volume, NCI Thesaurus)
A finding based on test results that indicate a relative decrease in the fraction of the forced vital capacity that is exhaled in a specific number of seconds.
(Decreased Forced Expiratory Volume, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)
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