eclipse

UK: /ɪˈklɪps/ US: /ɪˈklɪps/ ,(i klips′)

Inflections of 'eclipse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

eclipses

v 3rd person singular

eclipsing

v pres p

eclipsed

v past

eclipsed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

e•clipse /ɪˈklɪps/   n., v., e•clipsed /ɪˈklɪpst/  e•clips•ing. 
n. 

1. Astronomy the covering or cutting off of the light of one heavenly body by another:
   [countable] lunar eclipse; solar eclipse.
2. a reduction or loss of power, status, fame, or reputation:
   [uncountable] The actor's reputation went into eclipse after the scandal.

v. [~ + object]

3. Astronomy to cause to undergo eclipse:
   The moon eclipsed the sun.
4. to make less outstanding or important by comparison;
   surpass:
   This eclipses all his former achievements.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

e•clipse  (i klips′), n., v., e•clipsed, e•clips•ing. 
n. 

1. Astronomy
   • 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.)
   • a similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun.
   • 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.

v.t. 

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

• Greek ékleipsis, equivalent. to ekleíp(ein) to leave out, forsake, fail to appear (see ec-) + -sis -sis
• Latin eclīpsis
• Anglo-French, Old French eclipse
• Middle English eclips(e), clips 1250–1300

e•clips′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

eclipse / ɪˈklɪps/ noun

1. the total or partial obscuring of reflected light from a celestial body as a result of its passage through the shadow of another. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the shadow of the earth
   See also 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 (transitive)

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

Etymology: 13th Century: back formation from Old English eclypsis, from Latin eclīpsis, from Greek ekleipsis a forsaking, from ekleipein to abandon, from leipein to leave

eˈclipser noun