adj. & n.
--adj.
1. of, concerned with, or essential to organic life (vital functions).
2 essential to the existence of a thing or to the matter in hand (a vital question; secrecy is vital).
3 full of life or activity.
4 affecting life.
5 fatal to life or to success etc. (a vital error).
6 disp. important.
--n. (in pl.) the body's vital organs, e.g. the heart and brain.
Phrases and idioms:
vital capacity the volume of air that can be expelled from the lungs after taking the deepest possible breath. vital force 1 (in Bergson's philosophy) life-force.
2 any mysterious vital principle. vital power the power to sustain life.
vital statistics
1. the number of births, marriages, deaths, etc.
2 colloq. the measurements of a woman's bust, waist, and hips.
Derivatives:
vitally adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L vitalis f. vita life