vitals

/ˈvaɪtəlz/
noun
  1. The organs of the body that are essential for life, such as the heart, lungs, and brain.
    • The knight's armor protected his vitals during battle.
    • In anatomy class, we studied the location of the human vitals.
    • The bullet narrowly missed his vitals, saving his life.
  2. The most important or essential parts of something.
    • The editor cut the article down to its vitals.
    • We need to focus on the vitals of the business to survive the recession.
    • The vitals of the plan include funding and a clear timeline.
  3. Short for 'vital signs' — measurements of basic body functions like pulse, temperature, and blood pressure.
    • Paramedics took her vitals at the accident scene.
    • His vitals were stable after the surgery.
    • The nurse checked the patient's vitals every hour.
Synonyms
What does "vitals" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean