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

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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