Lifeblood

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪfˌblʌd/

Definitions

1. An essential substance or element that plays a critical role in sustaining life and operations within a system or organization
2. A fundamental force or component that is necessary for the vitality and functioning of a being or structure
3. A vital resource or element that is crucial for maintaining the existence and operation of a living entity or organization

Etymology: "Lifeblood" is a plain compound of "life" and "blood," and its history is simple. The blood that keeps a body alive has long been seen as the core of life itself, so pairing the two words gave English a way to speak of anything that is essential to a living thing's survival. The English compound has an older twin in the German "herzblut," or heart-blood, which carries the same sense of blood as the source of vitality. The parallel shows how naturally speakers reached for blood as a symbol of what sustains existence. Over time the word moved beyond the body. Writers began using it for the vital resource of a community, an industry, or an institution, so that a river might be the lifeblood of a city or a trade the lifeblood of a economy. The literal sense of blood flowing through a body became a figure for whatever keeps an organization running.

Synonyms: essence, vitality, nourishment, sustenance, core