obturation

1 of 2

noun

-ed/-ing/-s
: obstruct, close
especially : to stop (a gun breech) so as to prevent the escape of gas in firing

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin obturation-, obturatio, from obturare to obstruct

Transitive verb

Latin obturatus, past participle of obturare to stop up, from ob- toward, over + -turare (akin to tumēre to swell)

First Known Use

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obturation was in 1610

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obturation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obturation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

obturation

noun
: obstruction of a bodily passage
intestinal obturation
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