Meaning & use

Occlude

verb·Academic

Last updated

To block, close up, or obstruct an opening or passage.

See it in a sentence

Swollen tissue can occlude the airway, making it hard to breathe.

The dam occludes the river's natural flow, creating a large reservoir behind it.

A note on using this word

In dentistry, "occlude" also describes how the upper and lower teeth meet when the jaw closes.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

unblockclear

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