WordGarden.ioocclude
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /əklˈuːd/
US
- /əklˈuːd/
Meanings
Verb
to block or close up a vessel, airway, or other passage
to block something from view by covering it or coming in front of it
for opposing teeth to come together when the jaws close
Beyond the definition
Imagine standing behind a tall tree: it occludes your friend from sight. In other words, it blocks them, covers them, or hides them from view. The word is often used when one thing gets in the way of another. Doctors use it to describe an artery becoming occluded when plaque or a clot blocks the normal flow of blood. In art and design, occlusion helps create depth by letting closer objects hide parts of what is behind them. In general, if something is occluded, it cannot be clearly seen or easily reached because something else is in the way.
To occlude means to obstruct, cover up, or shut off a passage or view, preventing something from being fully visible or accessible. Derived from the Latin occludere, meaning "to shut," the word describes the act of closing a gap or blocking a line of sight.
In the natural world, think of a solar eclipse, where the moon occludes the sun and temporarily blocks its light from reaching Earth. In medicine, "occlusion" is an important term; an artery or vein might become occluded by a blood clot or plaque, restricting circulation and potentially causing serious health problems. The word also appears in dentistry, where "occlusion" refers to the way the upper and lower teeth meet when the jaws close.
However, the idea is not limited to simple physical blocking. In computer graphics, "ambient occlusion" describes how light is blocked by nearby surfaces, which helps create realistic shadows and depth. More broadly, the word can describe one thing hiding or closing off another, whether that means blocking a view, sealing a passage, or preventing normal flow. Whether it appears in science, medicine, art, or everyday description, occlude carries the same core idea: something is in the way, and as a result, something else becomes hidden, blocked, or shut off.
Examples
- 1
Weather
The clouds briefly occluded the sun.
- 2
Audience view
From my seat, a pillar occluded part of the stage.
- 3
Medical blockage
Doctors found that a blood clot had occluded a small artery.
- 4
Writing
In the report, technical details sometimes occlude the main point.
- Patternocclude + main point/meaning
make it harder to notice or understand
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- occludeverb
Forms
- occludedpast tenseverb
- occluding-ing formverb
- occludesverb