oc|ca|sion ◆◆◇ /əke I ʒ ə n/ (occasions )
1 N‑COUNT An occasion is a time when something happens, or a case of it happening. □ I often think fondly of an occasion some years ago at Covent Garden. □ Mr Davis has been asked on a number of occasions.
2 N‑COUNT An occasion is an important event, ceremony, or celebration. □ Taking her with me on official occasions has been a challenge. □ It will be a unique family occasion.
3 N‑COUNT An occasion for doing something is an opportunity for doing it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] It is an occasion for all the family to celebrate. □ [+ for ] It is always an important occasion for setting out government policy.
4 VERB To occasion something means to cause it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He argued that the release of hostages should not occasion a change in policy.
5 → see also sense of occasion
6 PHRASE If you have occasion to do something, it is necessary for you to do it. □ We have had occasion to deal with members of the group on a variety of charges.
7 PHRASE If something happens on occasion , it happens sometimes, but not very often. □ He translated not only from the French but also, on occasion, from the Polish.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone rose to the occasion , you mean that they did what was necessary to successfully overcome a difficult situation. □ It was a big day and we rose to the occasion.
oc|ca|sion|al ◆◇◇ /əke I ʒən ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Occasional means happening sometimes, but not regularly or often. □ I've had occasional mild headaches all my life. □ Esther used to visit him for the occasional days and weekends. ● oc|ca|sion|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He still misbehaves occasionally.
oc|ci|den|tal /ɒ ks I de nt ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Occidental means relating to the countries of Europe and America. [FORMAL ] □ There is a fundamental division between oriental and occidental approaches to land use.
oc|cult /ɒkʌ lt, ɒ kʌlt/ N‑SING The occult is the knowledge and study of supernatural or magical forces. □ …sinister experiments with the occult. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Occult is also an adjective. □ …organisations which campaign against paganism and occult practice.
oc|cult|ist /ɒkʌ lt I st/ (occultists ) N‑COUNT An occultist is a person who believes in the supernatural and the power of magic.
oc|cu|pan|cy /ɒ kjʊpənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Occupancy is the act of using a room, building, or area of land, usually for a fixed period of time. [FORMAL ] □ Hotel occupancy has been as low as 40%.
oc|cu|pant /ɒ kjʊpənt/ (occupants )
1 N‑COUNT The occupants of a building or room are the people who live or work there. □ Most of the occupants had left before the fire broke out.
2 N‑PLURAL You can refer to the people who are in a place such as a room, vehicle, or bed at a particular time as the occupants . □ The lifeboat capsized, throwing the occupants into the water.
oc|cu|pa|tion ◆◇◇ /ɒ kjʊpe I ʃ ə n/ (occupations )
1 N‑COUNT Your occupation is your job or profession. □ I suppose I was looking for an occupation which was going to be an adventure. □ Occupation: administrative assistant.
2 N‑COUNT An occupation is something that you spend time doing, either for pleasure or because it needs to be done. □ Parachuting is a dangerous occupation.
3 N‑UNCOUNT The occupation of a country happens when it is entered and controlled by a foreign army. □ …the deportation of Jews from Paris during the German occupation. SYNONYMS occupation NOUN
1
job: Once I'm in America I can get a job.
business: You can't mix business with pleasure.
work: What kind of work do you do?
career: She is now concentrating on a career as a fashion designer.
2
hobby: My hobbies are football, music, photography, and tennis.
pastime: His favourite pastime is golf.
diversion: Finger painting is very messy but an excellent diversion.
oc|cu|pa|tion|al /ɒ kjʊpe I ʃən ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Occupational means relating to a person's job or profession. □ Some received substantial occupational assistance in the form of low-interest loans. ● oc|cu|pa|tion|al|ly ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ You might be having an occupationally related skin problem.
o c|cu|pa|tion|al ha z|ard (occupational hazards ) N‑COUNT An occupational hazard is something unpleasant that you may suffer or experience as a result of doing your job or hobby. □ Catching colds is unfortunately an occupational hazard in this profession.
o c|cu|pa|tion|al hea lth N‑UNCOUNT Occupational health is the branch of medicine that deals with the health of people in their workplace or in relation to their job. □ Over the years, occupational health has moved more towards preventive medicine.
o c|cu|pa|tion|al the ra|pist (occupational therapists ) N‑COUNT An occupational therapist is someone whose job involves helping people by means of occupational therapy.
o c|cu|pa|tion|al the ra|py N‑UNCOUNT Occupational therapy is a method of helping people who have been ill or injured to develop skills or get skills back by giving them certain activities to do. □ She will now begin occupational therapy to regain the use of her hands.
oc|cu|pi|er /ɒ kjʊpa I ə r / (occupiers )
1 N‑COUNT The occupier of a house, flat, or piece of land is the person who lives or works there. [FORMAL ]