noun
eclipse
ih-KLIHPS
noun
1
An event where one astronomical body passes in front of another, blocking it from view, such as the Moon passing in front of the Sun.
"Millions gathered to watch the total solar eclipse in 2017."
"A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth's shadow falls across the Moon."
verb
1
To overshadow something, making it seem less important or noticeable by comparison.
"Her earlier achievements were eclipsed by the scandal that followed."
How to Use Eclipse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne thing blocking or overshadowing another — literally in astronomy, or figuratively when something outshines something else.
Common pairings
solar eclipse
lunar eclipse
eclipsed by
total eclipse
Word Forms
eclipsed past tense, eclipses plural, eclipses singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “eclipse”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Millions gathered to watch the total solar _____ in 2017.
Etymology
From Greek ékleipsis, "a forsaking" or "vanishing," from ekleípō — ek- ("out") plus leípō ("to leave behind") — describing how the sun or moon seems to disappear.