Wedged or pressed closely so as to move as a single unit.
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im·pact·ed im-'pak-təd adj
1 a) blocked by material (as feces) that is firmly packed or wedged in position <an \impacted colon>
b) wedged or lodged in a bodily passage <an \impacted mass of feces> <an \impacted fetus in the birth canal>
2) characterized by broken ends of bone driven together <an \impacted fracture>
3) of a tooth wedged between the jawbone and another tooth <an \impacted wisdom tooth>
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adj.
firmly wedged. An impacted tooth (usually a wisdom tooth) is one that cannot erupt into a normal position because it is obstructed by other tissues. Impacted faeces are so hard and dry that they cannot pass through the anus without special measures being taken (see constipation). An impacted fracture is one in which the bone ends are driven into each other.
• impaction n.
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im·pact·ed (im-pakґtəd) [L. impactus] driven firmly in; closely or firmly lodged in position, as an impacted tooth or impacted twins.Medical dictionary. 2011.