oc·clu·sion (
-kl
zhn)
n.
1.
a. The process of occluding.
b. Something that occludes.
2. Medicine An obstruction or a closure of a passageway or vessel.
3. Dentistry The alignment of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws when brought together.
4. Meteorology
a. The process of occluding air masses.
b. An occluded front.
5. Linguistics Closure at some point in the vocal tract that blocks the flow of air in the production of an oral or nasal stop.
[From Latin occl
sus, past participle of occldere, to occlude; see occlude.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
