Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin vitalis of life, from vita life; akin to Latin vivere to live; more at QUICK
Pronunciation : vI-t
&l
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. lively, living, animated, vigorous; crucial, critical, necessary. vital\vi"tal\, n. a vital part; one of the vitals. [r.]vital \vi"tal\ , a. [f., fr. l. vitalis, fr. vita life; akin to vivere to live. see:
vivid.].
2. belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital functions; vital actions.
3. contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life; as, vital blood. do the heavens afford him vital food? and vital virtue infused, and vital warmth.
4. containing life; living. "spirits that live throughout, vital in every part.".
5. being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal. the dart flew on, and pierced a vital part.
6. very necessary; highly important; essential. a competence is vital to content.
7. capable of living; in a state to live; viable. [r.] pythagoras and hippocrates affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital. t. browne.vital air, oxygen gas; -- so called because essential to animal life. [obs.]vital capacity (physiol.), the breathing capacity of the lungs; -- expressed by the number of cubic inches of air which can be forcibly exhaled after a full inspiration.vital force. (biol.) see:
under force. the vital forces, according to cope, are nerve force (neurism), growth force (bathmism), and thought force (phrenism), all under the direction and control of the vital principle. apart from the phenomena of consciousness, vital actions no longer need to be considered as of a mysterious and unfathomable character, nor vital force as anything other than a form of physical energy derived from, and convertible into, other well-known forces of nature.vital functions (physiol.), those functions or actions of the body on which life is directly dependent, as the circulation of the blood, digestion, etc.vital principle, an immaterial force, to which the functions peculiar to living beings are ascribed.vital statistics, statistics respecting the duration of life, and the circumstances affecting its duration.vital tripod. (physiol.) see:
under tripod.vital vessels (bot.), a name for latex tubes, now disused. see:
latex.vital adj.
8. urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy society"; "of vital interest" [syn: critical].
9. performing an essential function in the living body; "vital organs"; "blood and other vital fluids"; "the loss of vital heat in shock"; "a vital spot"; "life-giving love and praise" [syn: life-sustaining].
10. full of spirit; "a dynamic full of life woman"; "a vital and charismatic leader"; "this whole lively world" [syn: full of life , lively].
11. manifesting or characteristic of life; "a vital, living organism"; "vital signs".
12. Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital functions; vital actions.
13. Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life; as, vital blood.
14. Containing life; living.
15. Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal.
16. Very necessary; highly important; essential.
17. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable.
18. A vital part; one of the vitals. manifesting or characteristic of life; "a vital, living organism"; "vital signs" performing an essential function in the living body; "vital organs"; "blood and other vital fluids"; "the loss of vital heat in shock"; "a vital spot"; "life-giving love and praise".
19. 1. If you say that something is vital, you mean that it is necessary or very important. The port is vital to supply relief to millions of drought victims Nick Wileman is a school caretaker so it is vital that he gets on well with young people After her release she was able to give vital information about her kidnapper. = crucial + vitally vi·tal·ly Lesley's career in the church is vitally important to her.
20. If you describe someone or something as vital, you mean that they are very energetic and full of life. They are both very vital people and a good match = lively.