occlude

/əˈkluːd/
verb
  1. To block or close up a passage, opening, or tube.
    • A blood clot can occlude an artery and cause a heart attack.
    • The dentist said the filling would occlude the cavity and prevent further decay.
    • Heavy traffic occluded the main road into the city for hours.
  2. In dentistry, to bring the upper and lower teeth into contact when the mouth is closed.
    • The orthodontist adjusted the braces so that her teeth would occlude properly.
    • When you bite down, your molars should occlude evenly on both sides.
    • If your teeth do not occlude correctly, it can cause jaw pain.
  3. In astronomy, to hide or block the view of one celestial body by another.
    • The moon will occlude the star Aldebaran during the eclipse.
    • Astronomers observed the asteroid as it began to occlude the distant galaxy.
    • When Venus passes between Earth and the sun, it can occlude a small part of the solar disk.
Antonyms
What does "occlude" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean