/ ɪˈklɪps; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an occasion when the moon passes between the earth and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the sun for a time; an occasion when the earth passes between the moon and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the moon for a time :
an eclipse of the sun / moon
a total / partial eclipse
2.
[ sing. , U ] a loss of importance, power, etc. especially because sb/sth else has become more important, powerful, etc. :
The election result marked the eclipse of the right wing.
Her work was in eclipse for most of the 20th century.
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
[ often passive ] ( of the moon, the earth, etc. ) to cause an eclipse
2.
to make sb/sth seem dull or unimportant by comparison
SYN outshine , overshadow :
Though a talented player, he was completely eclipsed by his brother.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French e(s)clipse (noun), eclipser (verb), via Latin from Greek ekleipsis , from ekleipein fail to appear, be eclipsed, from ek out + leipein to leave.