occult: Meaning and Definition of

oc•cult

Pronunciation: (u-kult', ok'ult), [key]
— adj.
  1. of or pertaining to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.
  2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious.
  3. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.
  4. hidden from view.
  5. (in early science) occult science.
    1. not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation.
    2. of a nature not understood, as physical qualities.
    3. dealing with such qualities; experimental:occult science.
  6. present in amounts too small to be visible: a chemical test to detect occult blood in the stool.
—n.
  1. the supernatural or supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole (usually prec. by the).
  2. occult studies or sciences (usually prec. by the).
—v.t.
  1. to block or shut off (an object) from view; hide.
  2. to hide (a celestial body) by occultation.
—v.i.
  1. to become hidden or shut off from view.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: