vitamn.html - n.
any of a group of organic compounds essential in small amounts for many living organisms to maintain normal health and development.

vitamin A = RETINOL. vitamin B complex (or B vitamins) any of a group of vitamins which, although not chemically related, are often found together in the same foods. vitamin B[1] = THIAMINE. vitamin B[2] = RIBOFLAVIN. vitamin B[6] = PYRIDOXINE. vitamin B[12] = CYANOCOBALAMIN. vitamin C = ASCORBIC ACID. vitamin D any of a group of vitamins found in liver and fish oils, essential for the absorption of calcium and the prevention of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. vitamin D[2] = CALCIFEROL. vitamin D[3] = CHOLECALCIFEROL. vitamin E = TOCOPHEROL. vitamin K any of a group of vitamins found mainly in green leaves and essential for the blood-clotting process. vitamin K[1] = PHYLLOQUINONE. vitamin K[2] = MENAQUINONE. vitamin M esp. US = FOLIC ACID. [orig. vitamine f. L vita life + AMINE, because orig. thought to contain an amino acid]

vitamn.html - v.tr.
(also -ise) add vitamins to.

vitamn.html - 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.

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.

vitally adv. [ME f. OF f. L vitalis f. vita life]

vitamn.html - n.
Biol. the doctrine that life originates in a vital principle distinct from chemical and other physical forces.

vitalist n. vitalistic adj. [F vitalisme or f. VITAL]

vitamn.html - n.
1 liveliness, animation.
2 the ability to sustain life, vital power.
3 (of an institution, language, etc.) the ability to endure and to perform its functions. [L vitalitas (as VITAL)]

vitamn.html - v.tr.
(also -ise)
1 endow with life.
2 infuse with vigour.

vitalization n.