1 (crucial) [+part, component, element] vital; indispensable Children's literature is a vital part of their education Iron is a vital component of haemoglobin
[+ingredient] esencial; indispensable; imprescindible; [+factor] decisivo; [+link, role] fundamental You must have ambition - as well as that vital ingredient, talent His illness could become a vital factor in the peace negotiations Social workers can provide a vital link between hospital and community Our physical attributes play a vital role in the way other people react to us This shows the vital importance of blood donation
[+question] vital There remained one vital question: Would she accept?
[+information] vital; esencial After her release she was able to give vital information about her kidnapper to be vital [to] +inf
it is vital to keep accurate records es imprescindible or esencial llevar un registro detallado
It is vital to keep an accurate record of every transaction to be vital [for] sb [to do] sth
is it really vital for her to have a new dress? ¿es realmente imprescindible que se compre un vestido nuevo?
it is vital [for] patients [to be involved] in their treatment It was vital for the British to demonstrate their support for US policy
it is vital that this be kept secret es esencial que se mantenga en secreto
Nick Wileman is a school caretaker, so it is vital that he gets on well with young people such skills are vital [for] survival Communication skills are vital for all interpersonal relationships
to be of vital importance (to sth/sb) ser de suma or vital importancia (para algo/algn); at the vital moment en el momento crítico or clave; these meetings are vital to a successful outcome estas reuniones son esenciales para un resultado positivo
these negotiations are vital [to] the successful outcome of the peace process his participation in the meeting is vital to a successful resolution of the problem
2 (dynamic) [+person, organization] vital; lleno de vitalidad They are both very vital people we must have a modern and vital parliament They have something important to say and vital and radical ways of saying it
vital spark chispa (f) vital
His phrasing lacked that vital spark of imagination The team could not produce the vital spark in front of goal
3 (Fisiol) [+organ, function] vital The bullet had passed through the body without damaging any vital organ He looked oddly lifeless, as if some vital force had been drained from him Doctors were consulted to determine why the president's vital functions were slowly shutting down Coffee drains the body of vital nutrients
