occlusion

[ uh-kloo-zhuhn ]

noun

1. the act of closing, blocking, or shutting something, or the state of being closed or blocked:

   Corrosion may cause both leakage and occlusion of the water supply pipes.

2. Dentistry. the fitting together of the teeth of the lower jaw with the corresponding teeth of the upper jaw when the jaws are closed.
3. Pathology. closure or blockage of a blood vessel:

   coronary occlusion.

4. Phonetics. momentary complete closure at some area in the vocal tract, causing stoppage of the flow of air and accumulation of pressure: many consonants in English, as /b/ and /k/, are articulated this way.
5. Meteorology.
   1. an occluded front.
   2. the formation of an occluded front.
6. Graphic Arts. an obstructed view, or occultation, of an object in three-dimensional space when line of sight is blocked by an intervening object:

   Augmented reality is only believable if rendered models respect occlusion and disappear behind real-world objects.

occlusion

/ əˈkluːʒən; əˈkluːsəl /

noun

1. the act or process of occluding or the state of being occluded
2. See occluded front
   meteorol another term for occluded front
3. dentistry the normal position of the teeth when the jaws are closed
4. phonetics the complete closure of the vocal tract at some point, as in the closure prior to the articulation of a plosive

occlusion

/ ə-klo̅o̅′zhən /

1. An obstruction in a passageway, especially of the body.
2. The alignment of the upper and lower sets of teeth with each other.

Derived Forms

• occlusal, adjective

Other Words From

• oc·clu·sal [uh, -, kloo, -s, uh, l, -z, uh, l], adjective
• non·oc·clu·sion noun
• pre·oc·clu·sion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of occlusion¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin occlūs(us) (past participle of occlūdere “to close up, shut”) + -ion; occlude

Example Sentences

Each shot also makes clear that Rockstar is employing many higher-res textures, higher shadow resolutions, improved ambient occlusion, increased model geometry, and an entirely new staging of both pre-baked and dynamic lighting.

From Ars Technica

There’s enhanced lighting thanks to ambient occlusion, and there are massively upgraded textures, especially on the aliens.

From Washington Post

An occlusion occurs when cold air overtakes warm air near the center of a low-pressure system, pinching a region of warm air above the earth’s surface.

From Outside Online

If the occlusion be not normal, the upper jaw and alveolar process will develop laterally as well as anteriorly.

From Project Gutenberg

Volvulus, vol′vū-lus; n. occlusion of the intestine through twisting.

From Project Gutenberg

It is claimed to cure chronic auto-infection and the spasmodic occlusion of the lower bowel!

From Project Gutenberg

The occlusion of the vein as well as the artery is not found to increase the risk of gangrene.

From Project Gutenberg

Gangrene, which may follow occlusion of main vessels, or virulent infective processes.

From Project Gutenberg