- vi´tal|ly
- vi|tal «VY tuhl», adjective, noun.–adj.1. of life; having something to do with life; exhibited by living things: »
vital energy. Growth and decay are vital processes.
2. necessary to life: »Eating is a vital function. The heart is a vital organ.
3. Figurative. very necessary; very important; basic; essential: »a vital question. The education of young people is vital to the future of our country. Voting is a vital function of citizens in a democracy. Drainage of the swamp was considered vital to the welfare of the community.
SYNONYM(S): fundamental.4. causing death, failure, or ruin: »a vital wound, a vital blow to an industry.
SYNONYM(S): mortal.6. full of life and spirit; lively: »What a vital boy he is—never idle, never dull.
SYNONYM(S): vigorous.7. being that immaterial force that is present in living things and by which they are animated and maintained: »the vital spark.
–n. vitals, a) the parts or organs necessary to life. The brain, heart, lungs, and stomach are vitals. »A slight wound; though it pierced his body, it…missed the vitals (John Fletcher).
b) Figurative. the essential parts or features of anything; essentials: »If the vitals were preserved, I should not differ for the rest (Thomas Burton).
╂[< Latin vītālis < vīta life, related to vīvere to live]–vi´tal|ly, adverb.–vi´tal|ness, noun.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
