occlusion

/əˈkluːʒən/
noun
  1. The act or state of being blocked or closed off, especially a passage or opening.
    • The plumber cleared the occlusion in the drain with a special tool.
    • A snow occlusion blocked the mountain road for several days.
    • The doctor diagnosed an occlusion in the patient's coronary artery.
  2. In dentistry, the way the upper and lower teeth fit together when the mouth is closed.
    • Braces are often used to correct problems with occlusion.
    • Poor occlusion can lead to jaw pain and difficulty chewing.
    • The orthodontist checked my occlusion to see if my bite was aligned properly.
  3. In meteorology, the process by which a cold front overtakes a warm front, forming an occluded front.
    • Meteorologists studied the occlusion process to better predict weather changes.
    • The occlusion of the warm front by the cold front caused the storm to intensify.
    • During occlusion, the warm air is lifted off the ground, often producing rain.
What does "occlusion" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean