noun
trauma
TRAW-muh
noun
1
A serious physical injury to the body.
"The paramedics treated the patient for chest trauma after the crash."
2
Severe emotional or psychological distress caused by a disturbing experience.
"The trauma of losing his home in the fire stayed with him for years."
How to Use Trauma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA serious injury — physical or emotional — caused by a harmful or deeply distressing event.
Common pairings
emotional trauma
childhood trauma
blunt trauma
Word Forms
traumas plural, traumata plural
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The paramedics treated the patient for chest _____ after the crash.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek trauma, "wound, damage."