impaction — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A compression; the packing together of loose matter.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. Something packed together tightly; a mass of densely-packed matter.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. A solid, immobile bulk of stool.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   As plastics cannot be easily egested, these can accumulate within the stomach, causing impaction and leading ultimately to death.

4. The failure of a tooth to erupt into the dental arch, because of adjacent teeth, dense overlying bone, excessive soft tissue, or other factor.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. The situation where an institute, usually a college or university, receives more applications from qualified applicants than the number of spaces available, meaning that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. the condition of being pressed closely together and firmly fixed

   Broader terms

   conditionstatus

2. a disorder in which feces are impacted in the lower colon

   Broader terms

   disorderupset

3. a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally

   Synonyms

   impacted tooth

   Broader terms

   disorderupset

4. a sharp collision produced by striking or dashing against something

   Synonyms

   impingement

   Broader terms

   crashsmash