eclipse
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
An astronomical event where one celestial body moves into the shadow of another, causing temporary obscuration.
A state of being overshadowed, overshadowing another, or a loss of significance, prominence, or power.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun in astronomical contexts; used metaphorically (verb & noun) in other registers to signify overshadowing or decline.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of past tense/past participle follows standard BrE/AE conventions (eclipsed).
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in US media discourse regarding politics and entertainment (e.g., 'eclipsed in the polls').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] eclipse [NP]be eclipsed by [NP][NP] suffer an eclipseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in eclipse (figurative: in a state of obscurity or decline)”
- “eclipse of the moon/sun”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The new startup's innovation quickly eclipsed the market leader's offerings.
Academic
Kepler's laws allowed for the accurate prediction of lunar eclipses.
Everyday
We used special glasses to watch the solar eclipse.
Technical
The penumbral phase precedes the umbral contact during a partial eclipse.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new evidence eclipsed all previous theories on the matter.
- Their success in the championships eclipsed the club's earlier failures.
American English
- The quarterback's performance completely eclipsed his rookie-season stats.
- The scandal quickly eclipsed all other news coverage.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjectival form; 'eclipsed' is a participle).
American English
- N/A (No standard adjectival form; 'eclipsed' is a participle).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw an eclipse of the moon last night.
- The sun disappeared during the eclipse.
- A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.
- The small lamp was completely eclipsed by the bright morning light.
- The politician's early popularity was eclipsed by a series of personal scandals.
- Viewing a total solar eclipse is a profoundly moving experience.
- The company's groundbreaking patent temporarily eclipsed all competitors in the sector.
- Scholars debate whether this period represented an eclipse of classical learning or merely a transformation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ECLIPSE: Imagine a CLIP of the sun being cut out (E-CLIP-S).
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS LIGHT / OBSCURITY IS LOSS (e.g., 'His fame was eclipsed by scandal').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'затмение' only in the psychological sense ('умственное затмение'). 'Eclipse' is primarily external/astronomical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'eclipse' as a verb without an object (incorrect: 'His fame eclipsed.' correct: 'His fame eclipsed hers.').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'eclipse' MOST metaphorical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, commonly. It means to overshadow or make seem less significant (e.g., 'Their joy was eclipsed by the bad news').
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun from Earth's view. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.
No. While its core meaning is astronomical, it is very frequently used metaphorically in general language, journalism, and business.
It can function as a participial adjective (e.g., 'an eclipsed star'), but it's derived from the verb 'eclipse' and is not a base adjective.