vitals

B2 Topic:The Human Body

US /ˈvaɪtəlz/ UK /ˈvaɪtəlz/ See IPA manual

Freq #12050

Meanings

1

noun
the internal organs essential to life, especially the heart, lungs, and brain

The blade missed his vitals by inches.
2

noun
the most important or indispensable parts of a system

The cyberattack struck at the vitals of the payment network.
3

noun
measurements of basic bodily functions, such as pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and temperature

The nurse checked her vitals before the examination.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the internal organs... vital organsessential organs

2 noun · the most important or... core heart essentials

3 noun · measurements of basic... vital signs

Word family

Related forms vital vitality organ pulseblood pressure

Etymology

A plural noun formed from vital, from Middle English vital via Old French from Latin vītālis ("of or belonging to life"), based on vīta ("life"). The noun first denoted organs necessary for life, then the indispensable core of anything; the medical sense is shortened from vital signs.

Topics

The Human Body

External links

# vitals

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈvaɪtəlz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvaɪtəlz/
**Frequency rank:** 12050

## Meanings
1. the internal organs essential to life, especially the heart, lungs, and brain
2. the most important or indispensable parts of a system
3. measurements of basic bodily functions, such as pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and temperature

## Examples
- The blade missed his vitals by inches.
- The cyberattack struck at the vitals of the payment network.
- The nurse checked her vitals before the examination.

## Synonyms
- vital organs
- vital signs
- core
- heart
- essentials

## Related Forms
- vital
- vitality
- organ
- pulse
- blood pressure

## Etymology
A plural noun formed from vital, from Middle English vital via Old French from Latin vītālis ("of or belonging to life"), based on vīta ("life"). The noun first denoted organs necessary for life, then the indispensable core of anything; the medical sense is shortened from vital signs.

## Topics
- The Human Body

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