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vital

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.21 sec.
vi·tal  (vtl)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of life: See Synonyms at living.
2. Necessary to the continuation of life; life-sustaining: a vital organ; vital nutrients.
3. Full of life; animated: "The population of the teeming, vital slum . . . declined" Rick Hampson.
4. Imparting life or animation; invigorating: the sun's vital rays.
5. Necessary to continued existence or effectiveness; essential: "Irrigation was vital to early civilization" William H. McNeill. "A vital component of any democracy is a free labor movement" Bayard Rustin.
6. Concerned with or recording data pertinent to lives: vital records.
7. Biology Used or done on a living cell or tissue: vital dyes; vital staining.
8. Destructive to life; fatal: a vital injury.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vtlis, from vta, life; see gwei- in Indo-European roots.]

vital·ly adv.
vital·ness n.

vital
Adjective
1. essential or highly important: marriage isn't such a vital part of his life
2. energetic or lively: the epitome of vital youthful manhood
3. necessary to maintain life: the vital organs
Noun
vitals the bodily organs, such as the brain and heart, that are necessary to maintain life [Latin vita life]
vitally adv
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.vitalvital - urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy society"; "of vital interest"
indispensable - not to be dispensed with; essential; "foods indispensable to good nutrition"
2.vital - 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"
essential - basic and fundamental; "the essential feature"
3.vital - full of spirit; "a dynamic full of life woman"; "a vital and charismatic leader"; "this whole lively world"
animated, alive - having life or vigor or spirit; "an animated and expressive face"; "animated conversation"; "became very animated when he heard the good news"
4.vitalvital - manifesting or characteristic of life; "a vital, living organism"; "vital signs"
alive, live - possessing life; "the happiest person alive"; "the nerve is alive"; "doctors are working hard to keep him alive"; "burned alive"; "a live canary"

vital
adjective 2. lively, vigorous, energetic, spirited, dynamic, animated, vibrant, forceful, sparky, vivacious, full of beans (informal) zestful, full of the joy of living << OPPOSITE lethargic
Translations
Spanish vital [ˈvaɪtl] adj (= essential) → esencial, imprescindible (= crucial); crítico; [person] → enérgico, vivo (= of life); vital;
of vital importance (to sb/sth) → de suma importancia (para algn/algo)

French vital [ˈvaɪtl] adjvital(e);
of vital importance (to sb/sth) → d'une importance capitale (pour qn/qch)

German vital [ˈvaɪtl] adj (essential) → unerlässlich;
(organ) → lebenswichtig;
(full of life) → vital;
of vital importance (to sb/sth) → von größter Wichtigkeit (für jdn/etw)

Italian vital [ˈvaɪtl] adjvitale;
of vital importance (to sb/sth) → di vitale importanza (per qn/qc)

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We may then distinguish "vital" from mechanical movements by the fact that vital movements depend for their causation upon the special properties of the nervous system, while mechanical movements depend only upon the properties which animal bodies share with matter in general.
Some people are born with a vital and responsive energy.
But if the destruction of the Union by one or by a part only of the States be lawfully possible, the Union is LESS perfect than before the Constitution, having lost the vital element of perpetuity.
 
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