trauma

noun trau·ma \ˈtrau̇-mə, ˈtrȯ-\

: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

medical : a serious injury to a person's body

plural traumas also trau·ma·ta \-mə-tə\

Full Definition of TRAUMA

a : an injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent

b : a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury

c : an emotional upset <the personal trauma of an executive who is not living up to his own expectations — Karen W. Arenson>

: an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma

— trau·mat·ic \trə-ˈma-tik, trȯ-, trau̇-\ adjective

— trau·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See trauma defined for English-language learners

See trauma defined for kids

Origin of TRAUMA

Greek traumat-, trauma wound, alteration of trōma; akin to Greek titrōskein to wound, tetrainein to pierce — more at throw

First Known Use: circa 1693

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Medical Dictionary

trauma

noun trau·ma \ˈtrȯ-mə, ˈtrau̇-\

plural traumas also trau·ma·ta \-mət-ə\

Medical Definition of TRAUMA

a : an injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent <surgical trauma> <the intra-abdominal organs at greatest risk to athletic trauma are the spleen, pancreas, and kidney—M. R. Eichelberger>—see blunt trauma b : a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from mental or emotional stress or physical injury

: an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma