n. 1. The act of occulting or the state of being occulted. 2. Astronomy a. The passage of a celestial object across the line of sight between an observer and another celestial object, as when the moon moves between Earth and the sun in a solar eclipse. b. The progressive blocking and unblocking of light or other electromagnetic radiation from a celestial source during such a passage: a lunar occultation of a quasar; a planetary occultation of a star. c. An observational technique for determining the position or radiant structure of a celestial source undergoing such occultation or of the object causing the occultation. 3. Islam The temporary, supernatural removal of a holy person from visible existence, as Shiites believe is the case with the 12th imam. [Middle English occultacion, from Latin occultātiō, occultātiōn-, from occultātus, past participle of occultāre, frequentative of occulere, to conceal; see OCCULT.] |
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