eclipsed









eclipsed


noun

  1. Astronomy.
    1. the obscuration of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun (lunar eclipse) or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth (solar eclipse).
    2. a similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun.
    3. the partial or complete interception of the light of one component of a binary star by the other.
  2. any obscuration of light.
  3. a reduction or loss of splendor, status, reputation, etc.: Scandal caused the eclipse of his career.

verb (used with object), e·clipsed, e·clips·ing.

  1. to cause to undergo eclipse: The moon eclipsed the sun.
  2. to make less outstanding or important by comparison; surpass: a soprano whose singing eclipsed that of her rivals.

noun

  1. the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth; a lunar eclipse when the earth passes between the sun and the moonSee also total eclipse, partial eclipse, annular eclipse Compare occultation
  2. the period of time during which such a phenomenon occurs
  3. any dimming or obstruction of light
  4. a loss of importance, power, fame, etc, esp through overshadowing by another

verb (tr)

  1. to cause an eclipse of
  2. to cast a shadow upon; darken; obscure
  3. to overshadow or surpass in importance, power, etc
v.

late 14c. (intransitive, a sense now obsolete), from eclipse (n.). Transitive use from late 15c.; figurative use from 1580s. Related: Eclipsed; eclipsing.

n.

late 13c., from Old French eclipse “eclipse, darkness” (12c.), from Latin eclipsis, from Greek ekleipsis “an abandonment, an eclipse,” from ekleipein “to forsake a usual place, fail to appear, be eclipsed,” from ek “out” (see ex-) + leipein “to leave” (cognate with Latin linquere; see relinquish).

  1. The partial or total blocking of light of one celestial object by another. An eclipse of the Sun or Moon occurs when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned.♦ In a solar eclipse the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth. During a total solar eclipse the disk of the Moon fully covers that of the Sun, and only the Sun’s corona is visible.♦ An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is farthest in its orbit from the Earth so that its disk does not fully cover that of the Sun, and part of the Sun’s photosphere is visible as a ring around the Moon.♦ In a lunar eclipse all or a part of the Moon’s disk enters the umbra of the Earth’s shadow and is no longer illuminated by the Sun. Lunar eclipses occur only during a full moon, when the Moon is directly opposite the Sun.

In astronomy, the blocking out of light from one object by the intervention of another object. The most dramatic eclipses visible from the Earth are eclipses of the sun (when sunlight is blocked by the moon) and eclipses of the moon (when sunlight on its way to the moon is blocked by the Earth).

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