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n. pl. trau·mas or trau·ma·ta (-mə-tə) 1. a. Serious injury to the body, as from physical violence or an accident: abdominal trauma. b. Severe emotional or mental distress caused by an experience: He experienced trauma for years after his divorce. 2. a. An experience that causes severe anxiety or emotional distress, such as rape or combat: memories that persist after a trauma occurs. b. An event or situation that causes great disruption or suffering: the economic trauma of the recession. [Greek; see terə-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] trau·matic (-mătĭk) adj. trau·mati·cal·ly adv. |
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