Etymology : Latin occurrere, from ob- in the way + currere to run; more at OB-, CAR
Pronunciation : &-k&r
Function : intransitive verb
Date : 1534
1. happen, take place, transpire; come to mind, suggest itself. occur\oc*cur"\ , v. i. [imp. & p. p. occurred ; p. pr. & vb. n. occurring .] [l. occurrere, occursum; ob (see:
ob-) + currere to run. see:
course.].
2. to meet; to clash. [obs.] the resistance of the bodies they occur with.
3. to go in order to meet; to make reply. [obs.] i must occur to one specious objection.
4. to meet one's eye; to be found or met with; to present itself; to offer; to appear; to happen; to take place; as, i will write if opportunity occurs. in scripture, though the word heir occur, yet there is no such thing as "heir" in our author's sense.
5. to meet or come to the mind; to suggest itself; to be presented to the imagination or memory. there doth not occur to me any use of this experiment for profit.occur v.
6. come to pass; "what is happening?"; "the meeting took place off without an incidence"; "nothing occurred that seemed important" [syn: happen, hap, go on, pass off, pass, come about, take place].
7. come to one's mind; suggest itself; "it occurred to me that we should hire another secretary"; "a great idea then came to her" [syn: come].
8. to be found to exist; "sexism occurs in many workplaces"; "precious stones occur in a large area in brazil".
9. To meet; to clash.
10. To go in order to meet; to make reply.
11. To meet one's eye; to be found or met with; to present itself; to offer; to appear; to happen; to take place; as, I will write if opportunity occurs.
12. To meet or come to the mind; to suggest itself; to be presented to the imagination or memory. come to one's mind; suggest itself; "It occurred to me that we should hire another secretary"; "A great idea then came to her" to be found to exist; "sexism occurs in many workplaces"; "precious stones occur in a large area in Brazil".
13. 1. When something occurs, it happens. If headaches only occur at night, lack of fresh air and oxygen is often the cause The crash occurred when the crew shut down the wrong engine In March 1770, there occurred what became known as the Boston Massacre.
14. When something occurs in a particular place, it exists or is present there. The cattle disease occurs more or less anywhere in Africa where the fly occurs These snails do not occur on low-lying coral islands or atolls. = exist.
15. If a thought or idea occurs to you, you suddenly think of it or realize it. It did not occur to me to check my insurance policy The same idea had occurred to Elizabeth.