Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,796,844,857 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

eclipse

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
e·clipse  (-klps)
n.
1.
a. The partial or complete obscuring, relative to a designated observer, of one celestial body by another.
b. The period of time during which such an obscuration occurs.
2. A temporary or permanent dimming or cutting off of light.
3.
a. A fall into obscurity or disuse; a decline: "A composer . . . often goes into eclipse after his death and never regains popularity" (Time).
b. A disgraceful or humiliating end; a downfall: Revelations of wrongdoing helped bring about the eclipse of the governor's career.
tr.v. e·clipsed, e·clips·ing, e·clips·es
1.
a. To cause an eclipse of.
b. To obscure; darken.
2.
a. To obscure or diminish in importance, fame, or reputation.
b. To surpass; outshine: an outstanding performance that eclipsed the previous record.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin eclpsis, from Greek ekleipsis, from ekleipein, to fail to appear, suffer an eclipse : ek-, out; see ecto- + leipein, to leave; see leikw- in Indo-European roots.]
click for a larger image
eclipse
solar eclipse

eclipse [ɪˈklɪps]
n
1. (Astronomy) 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 moon See also total eclipse, partial eclipse, annular eclipse Compare occultation
2. (Astronomy) 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
vb (tr)
1. (Astronomy) to cause an eclipse of
2. to cast a shadow upon; darken; obscure
3. to overshadow or surpass in importance, power, etc.
[back formation from Old English eclypsis, from Latin eclīpsis, from Greek ekleipsis a forsaking, from ekleipein to abandon, from leipein to leave]
eclipser  n

eclipse  (-klps)
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.
A Closer Look The Sun is about 400 times wider than the Moon and 400 times farther from Earth, causing the two to appear to be almost exactly the same size in our sky. This relationship is also responsible for the phenomenon of the total solar eclipse, an eclipse of the Sun in which the disk of the Moon fully covers that of the Sun, blocking the Sun's light and causing the Moon's shadow to fall across the Earth. A total solar eclipse can be viewed only from a very narrow area on Earth, or zone of totality, where the dark central shadow of the Moon, or umbra, falls. From this perspective one can view the Sun's delicate coronatendrils of charged gases that surround the Sun but are invisible to the unaided eye in normal daylight. This is also the only time when stars are visible in the day sky. Those viewing the eclipse from where the edges of the Moon's shadow, or penumbra, fall to Earth will see only a partial solar eclipse. The orbits of the Earth around the Sun and of the Moon around the Earth are not perfect circles, causing slight variations in how large the Sun and Moon appear to us and in the length of solar eclipses. The maximum duration of a total solar eclipse when the Earth is farthest from the Sun and the Moon is closest to the Earth is seven and a half minutes.
click for a larger image
eclipse
top: solar eclipse;
bottom: lunar eclipse
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.eclipseeclipse - one celestial body obscures another
egress, emersion - (astronomy) the reappearance of a celestial body after an eclipse
ingress, immersion - (astronomy) the disappearance of a celestial body prior to an eclipse
break, interruption - some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity; "the telephone is an annoying interruption"; "there was a break in the action when a player was hurt"
solar eclipse - the moon interrupts light from the sun
lunar eclipse - the earth interrupts light shining on the moon
total eclipse - an eclipse as seen from a place where the eclipsed body is completely obscured
partial eclipse - an eclipse in which the eclipsed body is only partially obscured
Verb1.eclipse - be greater in significance than; "the tragedy overshadowed the couple's happiness"
bulk large, brood, loom, hover - hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing; "The terrible vision brooded over her all day long"
2.eclipse - cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention; "The Sun eclipses the moon today"; "Planets and stars often are occulted by other celestial bodies"
overshadow - cast a shadow upon; "The tall tree overshadowed the house"

eclipse
noun
1. obscuring, covering, blocking, shading, dimming, extinction, darkening, blotting out, occultation a total eclipse of the sun
2. decline, fall, loss, failure, weakening, deterioration, degeneration, diminution the eclipse of the influence of the Republican party in West Germany
verb
1. surpass, exceed, overshadow, excel, transcend, outdo, outclass, outshine, leave or put in the shade (informal) The gramophone was eclipsed by the compact disc.
2. obscure, cover, block, cloud, conceal, dim, veil, darken, shroud, extinguish, blot out The sun was eclipsed by the moon.
Translations
eclipse [ɪˈklɪps]
A. Neclipse m
partial/total eclipseeclipse m parcial/total
B. VT (lit, fig) → eclipsar

eclipse [ɪˈklɪps]
n [sun, moon] → éclipse f
vt (= surpass) → éclipser
to be eclipsed by sth → être éclipsé(e) par qch

eclipse
n (Astron) → Eklipse f (spec), → Finsternis f; (fig) (of fame, theory)Verblassen nt; (of person)Niedergang m; eclipse of the sun/moonSonnen-/Mondfinsternis f; to be in eclipse (sun, moon)verfinstert sein; (fig)in der Versenkung verschwunden sein
vt (fig)in den Schatten stellen

eclipse [ɪˈklɪps]
1. neclissi f inv
2. vteclissare

eclipse [ɪˈklɪps]
1. neclissi f inv
2. vteclissare

eclipse
n eclipse [iˈklips]
the disappearance of the whole or part of the sun when the moon comes between it and the earth, or of the moon when the earth's shadow falls across it When was the last total eclipse of the sun? verduistering, eklips كُسوف الشَّمْس، خُسوف القَمَر слънчево затъмнение zatmění eklipse; solformørkelse die Finsternis έκλειψη eclipse varjutus خسوف؛ کسوف auringonpimennys éclipse לִיקוּי चन्द्र-सूर्य ग्रहण pomrčina fogyatkozás (napé, holdé) gerhana sólmyrkvi eclissi 日〔月〕食 천체의 물체가 다른 것에 의해 가려지는 것(일식, 월식 등) užtemimas aptumsums gerhana matahari verduistering sol-/måneformørkelse, eklipse zaćmienie eclipse eclipsă затмение zatmenie mrk pomračenje förmörkelse, eklips จันทรคราส (eclipse of the moon); สุริยคราส (eclipse of the sun); อุปราคา; ความมัวหมอง; ความมืดมนลง; การบดบังรัศมี tutulma 日蝕, 月蝕 сонячне затемнення گرہن nhật thực; nguyệt thực]食
v
1 to obscure or cut off the light or sight of (the sun or moon) The sun was partially eclipsed at 9 a.m. verduister يَكْسِفُ الشَّمْس أو القَمَر затъмнявам být v zatmění formørke verfinstern, verdunkeln προκαλώ έκλειψη eclipsar varjutama دچار گرفتگی شدن؛ تیره کردن pimentää éclipser לְהַסתִּיר ग्रहण लगना pomračiti elhomályosít menutupi myrkva; skyggja á eclissare 食する 다른 천체를 가리다 užtemdyti aptumšot melindungi verduisteren formørke zaćmić eclipsar a eclipsa заслонять byť v zatmení mrkniti pomračiti förmörka จันทรุปราคา tutulmak 食,掩蔽(天體)的光 затемняти وقتی طور پر اندھیرے میں چھپ جانا nhật thực, nguyệt thực 蔽(
2 to be much better than His great success eclipsed his brother's achievements. verduister يَتَفَوَّق засенчвам zastínit overskygge; stjæle billedet fra in den Schatten stellen επισκιάζω eclipsar (midagi) varju jätma ارزش رویدادی را کمرنگ کردن؛ کم ارزش کردن jättää varjoonsa éclipser לְהַאֲפִיל על- किसी की सफलता के आगे दूसरे की सफलता इत्यादि मांद पड़ना zasjeniti felülmúl mengalahkan skyggja á, bera af eclissare ~をしのぐ 능가하다 nustelbti aizēnot menenggelamkan overschaduwen overstråle, stille i skyggen przyćmić eclipsar a eclipsa затмевать zatieniť zasenčiti baciti u zasenak ställa i skuggan, överglänsa ดีกว่า gölgelemek 使失色 затьмарювати کسی کو امتیاز یا اہمیت سے محروم کرنا làm lu mờ 使


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Very good; then here we have it--'4 June, total eclipse of the moon commences at 8.
Then the minister came, and in that overshadowing presence the lesser lights went into eclipse.
For a minute perhaps I stared aghast at this blackness that was creeping over the day, and then I realized that an eclipse was beginning.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.