Trauma Noun - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

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Definition of trauma noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

trauma noun   /ˈtrɔːmə/  /ˈtrɔːmə/,  /ˈtraʊmə/ jump to other results

1.  [uncountable] (psychology) a mental condition caused by severe shock, stress or fear, especially when the harmful effects last for a long time
   • the effects of trauma and stress on the body
   • The children showed no signs of trauma after their ordeal.
   • patients who have histories of childhood trauma
   Topics Mental healthc1Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
   • major
   • severe
   • emotional
   • …
   verb + trauma
   • experience
   • face
   • go through
   • …
   trauma + noun
   • patient
   • survivor
   • victim
   • …
   phrases
   • a history of trauma
   See full entry

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2.  [countable, uncountable] a very frightening or upsetting experience
   • She felt exhausted after the traumas of recent weeks.
   Extra Examples
   • It can take a long time to get over such a trauma.
   • We try to avoid putting children through the trauma of giving evidence.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
   • major
   • severe
   • emotional
   • …
   verb + trauma
   • experience
   • face
   • go through
   • …
   trauma + noun
   • patient
   • survivor
   • victim
   • …
   phrases
   • a history of trauma
   See full entry
3. [uncountable, countable] (medical) an injury
   • The patient suffered severe brain trauma.
   Topics Health problemsc2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
   • major
   • severe
   • emotional
   • …
   verb + trauma
   • experience
   • face
   • go through
   • …
   trauma + noun
   • patient
   • survivor
   • victim
   • …
   phrases
   • a history of trauma
   See full entry
Word Originlate 17th cent.: from Greek, literally ‘wound’.

See trauma in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee trauma in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation: trauma

Nearby words

• trashy adjective
• trattoria noun
• trauma noun
• traumatic adjective
• traumatically adverb

tidy verb From the Word list Oxford 3000 A2 Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day