Definition of Eclipse

1. Noun. One celestial body obscures another.

Exact synonyms: Occultation
Terms within: Egress, Emersion, Immersion, Ingress
Generic synonyms: Break, Interruption
Specialized synonyms: Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Total Eclipse, Partial Eclipse

2. Verb. Be greater in significance than. "The tragedy overshadowed the couple's happiness"
Exact synonyms: Dominate, Overshadow
Generic synonyms: Brood, Bulk Large, Hover, Loom

3. Verb. Cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention. "Planets and stars often are occulted by other celestial bodies"
Exact synonyms: Occult
Generic synonyms: Overshadow

Definition of Eclipse

1. n. An interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon, or other luminous body, by the intervention of some other body, either between it and the eye, or between the luminous body and that illuminated by it. A lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing through the earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon coming between the sun and the observer. A satellite is eclipsed by entering the shadow of its primary. The obscuration of a planet or star by the moon or a planet, though of the nature of an eclipse, is called an occultation. The eclipse of a small portion of the sun by Mercury or Venus is called a transit of the planet.

2. v. t. To cause the obscuration of; to darken or hide; -- said of a heavenly body; as, the moon eclipses the sun.

3. v. i. To suffer an eclipse.

Definition of Eclipse

1. to obscure [v ECLIPSED, ECLIPSING, ECLIPSES] - See also: obscure

Medical Definition of Eclipse

1. 1. An interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon, or other luminous body, by the intervention of some other body, either between it and the eye, or between the luminous body and that illuminated by it. A lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing through the earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon coming between the sun and the observer. A satellite is eclipsed by entering the shadow of its primary. The obscuration of a planet or star by the moon or a planet, though of the nature of an eclipse, is called an occultation. The eclipse of a small portion of the sun by Mercury or Venus is called a transit of the planet. In ancient times, eclipses were, and among unenlightened people they still are, superstitiously regarded as forerunners of evil fortune, a sentiment of which occasional use is made in literature. "That fatal and perfidious bark, Built in the eclipse, and rigged with curses dark." (Milton) 2. The loss, usually temporary or partial, of light, brilliancy, luster, honor, consciousness, etc.; obscuration; gloom; darkness. "All the posterity of our fist parents suffered a perpetual eclipse of spiritual life." (Sir W. Raleigh) "As in the soft and sweet eclipse, When soul meets soul on lovers' lips." (Shelley) Annular eclipse. Origin: F. Eclipse, L. Eclipsis, fr. Gr, prop, a forsaking, failing, fr. To leave out, forsake; out + to leave. See Ex-, and Loan. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Eclipse Pictures

Click any thumbnail below to go to the full-sized version of that picture or photo:

Loading...

Lexicographical Neighbors of Eclipse

eclamptic retinopathy
eclamptogenic
eclat
eclats
eclectic
eclectic
eclectically
eclecticism
eclecticism
eclecticisms
eclecticist
eclectics
eclectic method
eclegm
eclipse (current term)
eclipse (current term)
eclipsed
eclipser
eclipsers
eclipses
eclipse blindness
eclipse period
eclipse phase
eclipsing
eclipsis
eclipsises
ecliptic
ecliptic
ecliptics
eclogite

Literary usage of Eclipse

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature by Anna Lorraine Guthrie, Marion A. Knight, H.W. Wilson Company, Estella E. Painter (1920)
"Pop Astron 26:85- 95 F '18 Partial eclipse of the moon 1918 June 24. ... Pop Astron 27:359-65 Je 49 Illinois eclipse expedition to Rock Springs. Wyoming. ..."

2. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society by Royal Meteorological Society (Great Britain) (1903)
"The mean of the observations along the area where the eclipse was total is given near ... The central line marked Totul gives the time of maximum eclipse, ..."

3. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1902)
""Total eclipse of the Sun, 1901, May 18. Preliminary Account of the Observations made at Pulo Aoer Gadang, West Coast of Sumatra." By FW DYSON, MA, F.RS., ..."

4. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"It is clear that an eclipse which is total or annular for certain parts of the ... 38, the eclipse will be total along a certain part of the central track, ..."

5. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1868)
"It is related by Diodorus Siculus that the voyage to Africa lasted six days, and that on the second day of the journey an eclipse occurred, during which the ..."

6. Report of the Annual Meeting (1862)
"the record; and it is admitted that even 12" would be too great for these requirements, unless the motion of the node were altered also. This .eclipse ..."

Other Resources Relating to: Eclipse

Search for Eclipse on Dictionary.com!Search for Eclipse on Thesaurus.com!Search for Eclipse on Google!Search for Eclipse on Wikipedia!

Search