— occlusal /euh klooh"seuhl, -zeuhl/ , adj.
/euh klooh"zheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or state of occluding or the state of being occluded.
2. Dentistry. the fitting together of the teeth of the lower jaw with the corresponding teeth of the upper jaw when the jaws are closed.
3. Pathol. closure or blockage of a blood vessel: coronary occlusion.
4. Phonet. momentary complete closure at some area in the vocal tract, causing stoppage of the flow of air and accumulation of pressure.
5. Meteorol.
a. the formation of an occluded front.
b. See occluded front .
[ 1635-45; occlus ( us ) (ptp. of occludere to OCCLUDE) + -ION ]