impaction

A compression; the packing together of loose matter.countableuncountable

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

A solid, immobile bulk of stool.countableuncountable

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

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

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.countableuncountable