eclipse

The word “eclipse” means 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. In plain terms, one thing blocking or overshadowing another — literally in astronomy, or figuratively when something outshines something else.

“Eclipse” is pronounced ih-KLIHPS (/ɪˈklɪps/ in IPA).

Here is “eclipse” used in a sentence: “Millions gathered to watch the total solar eclipse in 2017.”

Depending on how it is used, “eclipse” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “eclipse” comes from Greek. 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.

“Eclipse” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Eclipse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: 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.

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun from view. A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow onto the Moon; both are examples of one astronomical body passing in front of another.

Used figuratively as a verb, eclipse means to overshadow something, making it seem less important or noticeable by comparison, as in 'her achievements eclipsed his own.' This sense extends the astronomical idea of one body blocking another to describe one thing outshining or overtaking another.

Both eclipse and outshine describe one thing surpassing another in prominence, but eclipse carries a stronger sense of completely overshadowing or blocking something from attention, much like a celestial eclipse blocks a body from view. Outshine tends to suggest simply being more impressive, without necessarily implying the other thing disappears from notice.