occlude

oc·clude

verb \ə-ˈklüd, ä-\

oc·clud·edoc·clud·ing

Definition of OCCLUDE

transitive verb

1

: to close up or block off : obstruct <a thrombus occluding a coronary artery>; also : conceal

2

: sorb

intransitive verb

1

: to come into contact with cusps of the opposing teeth fitting together <his teeth do not occlude properly>

2

: to become occluded

Examples of OCCLUDE

1. <a blood clot had occluded a major artery in his body>

Origin of OCCLUDE

Latin occludere, from ob- in the way + claudere to shut, close — more at close

First Known Use: 1597

Related to OCCLUDE

Synonyms

block, choke, clot, congest, dam, gum (up), jam, obstruct, clog, plug (up), stop (up), stuff

Antonyms

clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Related Words

bung, cork, spile, stopper, stopple; fill, gridlock, pack; fur, silt; flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp

Near Antonyms

excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out); empty, lighten

Rhymes with OCCLUDE

allude, blood feud, collude, conclude, delude, denude, elude, exclude, extrude, exude, fast-food, health food, include, intrude, junk food, obtrude, plant food, postlude, preclude, prelude, protrude, quaalude, seafood, seclude, subdued, transude, unglued

oc·clude

verb \ə-ˈklüd, ä-\   (Medical Dictionary)

oc·clud·ed; oc·clud·ing

Medical Definition of OCCLUDE

transitive verb

1

: to close up or block off : obstruct <a thrombus occluding a coronary artery>

2

: to bring (upper and lower teeth) into occlusion

3

: to take in and retain (a substance) in the interior rather than on an external surface : sorb <proteins in precipitating may occlude alcohol>

intransitive verb

1

: to come into contact with cusps of the opposing teeth fitting together <his teeth do not occlude properly>

2

: to become occluded