Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 ADJ 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. ●  vi|tal|ly ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] □  Lesley's career in the church is vitally important to her.

2 ADJ 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.

vi|tal|ity /va I tæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone or something has vitality , you mean that they have great energy and liveliness. □  Without continued learning, graduates will lose their intellectual vitality.

vi |tal si gns N‑PLURAL The vital signs of a seriously ill person are the things such as their blood pressure and temperature which show that they are alive.

vi |tal sta|ti s|tics

1 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] The vital statistics of a population are statistics such as the number of births, deaths, or marriages which take place in it.

2 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Someone's vital statistics , especially a woman's, are the measurements of their body at certain points, for example at their chest, waist, and hips.

vita|min ◆◇◇ /v I təm I n, [AM ] va I t-/ (vitamins ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] Vitamins are substances that you need in order to remain healthy, which are found in food or can be eaten in the form of pills. □  Butter, margarine, and oily fish are all good sources of vitamin D.

vi|ti|ate /v I ʃie I t/ (vitiates , vitiating , vitiated ) VERB If something is vitiated , its effectiveness is spoiled or weakened. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] The Commission's handling of its finances is vitiated by error and fraud. □ [V n] But this does not vitiate his scholarship.

vit|re|ous /v I triəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Vitreous means made of glass or resembling glass. [TECHNICAL ]

vit|ri|ol /v I trioʊl/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to what someone says or writes as vitriol , you disapprove of it because it is full of bitterness and hate, and so causes a lot of distress and pain. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  The vitriol he hurled at members of the press knew no bounds.

vit|ri|ol|ic /v I triɒ l I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone's language or behaviour as vitriolic , you disapprove of it because it is full of bitterness and hate, and so causes a lot of distress and pain. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  There was a vicious and vitriolic attack on him in one of the Sunday newspapers two weeks ago.

vitro /viː troʊ/ → see in vitro

vi|tu|pera|tion /v I tjuː pəre I ʃ ^ə n, [AM ] va I tuː p-/ N‑UNCOUNT Vituperation is language that is full of hate, anger, or insults. [FORMAL ]

vi|tu|pera|tive /v I tjuː pərət I v, [AM ] va I tuː p-/ ADJ [ADJ n] Vituperative remarks are full of hate, anger, or insults. [FORMAL ] □  He is often the victim of vituperative remarks concerning his wealth. □  …one of journalism's most vituperative critics.

viva /va I və/ (vivas ) N‑COUNT A viva is a university examination in which a student answers questions in speech rather than writing. [BRIT ]

vi|va|cious /v I ve I ʃəs/ ADJ If you describe someone as vivacious , you mean that they are lively, exciting, and attractive. [WRITTEN , APPROVAL ] □  She's beautiful, vivacious, and charming.

vi|vac|ity /v I væ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone has vivacity , you mean that they are lively, exciting, and attractive. [WRITTEN , APPROVAL ]

viv|id /v I v I d/