occlusion: M-W's Word of the Day

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The Word of the Day for December 5 is:

occlusion \uh-KLOO-zhun\ noun
1 a : the complete obstruction of the breath passage in the articulation of a speech sound b : the bringing of the opposing surfaces of the teeth of the two jaws into contact; also : the relation between the surfaces when in contact c : the inclusion or sorption of gas trapped during solidification of a material
*2 : the front formed by a cold front overtaking a warm front and lifting the warm air above the earth's surface

Example sentence:
"Expect plenty of rain," warned the Midland Gliding Club Web site, "[from] a weakening occlusion ... close to northern Scotland."

Did you know?
"Occlusion" is a descendant of the Latin verb "occludere," meaning "to close up." "Occludere" in turn comes from the prefix "ob-," here meaning "in the way," and the verb "claudere," meaning "to close, shut." "Occlusion" is one of many English terms derived from "claudere." Some others are "recluse," "seclusion," and "exclude." An occlusion occurs when something has been closed up or blocked off. Almost all heart attacks are the result of the occlusion of a coronary (heart) artery by a blood clot. When a person's upper and lower teeth form a "malocclusion," they close incorrectly or badly. An occlusion, or "occluded" front, happens when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slow-moving warm front and slides underneath it, lifting the warm air and blocking its movement.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

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