occurrence
n.-
1 an event (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatesomething that happens, especially an event that is not planned.
an instance of something happening; a specific event or incident.
ExamplePower cuts are a common occurrence during the stormy winter months.
ExampleThe sudden appearance of the rare bird in a suburban garden was such an unusual occurrence that it drew birdwatchers from across the country.
UsageOften used with adjectives like 'common', 'rare', or 'everyday'.
PitfallIt was a strange occurance.It was a strange occurrence.The word is frequently misspelled; remember it has a double 'c' and a double 'r'.
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2 existence or frequency (n.) C1 Advanced Academic Technical Sciencethe fact of something existing or being found in a place.
the fact or frequency of something appearing or existing within a particular place or dataset.
ExampleScientists are studying the occurrence of microplastics in the local river.
ExampleThe researchers noted a high occurrence of specific mineral deposits along the fault line, suggesting a complex geological history.
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
Teacher's tipIn academic writing, this sense is used to discuss how often a specific feature or substance appears in a sample.
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3 linguistic aspect (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Sciencethe way a verb describes an action happening over time.
the lexical aspect or 'aktionsart' of a verb or predicate, specifically regarding how it unfolds in time.
ExampleThe professor explained how the occurrence of the verb changed its meaning.
ExampleIn formal semantics, the occurrence of a predicate is analyzed based on whether the action has a natural endpoint or continues indefinitely.
UsageUsed as a technical term in linguistics and grammar.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized term; most learners will only encounter it in advanced linguistics textbooks.
- aspect
- aktionsart
From Middle French occurrence, from Medieval Latin occurrentia. Morphologically occur + -ence.