Definition of ECLIPSE

eclipse

Plural: eclipses

Noun

  • one celestial body obscures another
  • An alignment of astronomical objects whereby one object comes between the observer (or notional observer) and another object, thus obscuring the latter.
  • Especially, an alignment whereby a planetary object (for example, the Moon) comes between the Sun and another planetary object (for example, the Earth), resulting in a shadow being cast by the middle planetary object onto the other planetary object.
  • A seasonal state of plumage in some birds, notably ducks, adopted temporarily after the breeding season and characterised by a dull and scruffy appearance.
  • Obscurity, decline, downfall.

Verb

Verb Forms: eclipsed, eclipsing, eclipses

  • To obscure or overshadow something; to surpass.
  • be greater in significance than
  • cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention
    • "The Sun eclipses the moon today"
  • Of astronomical or atmospheric bodies, to cause an eclipse.
  • To overshadow; to be better or more noticeable than.
  • To undergo eclipsis.

Examples

  • His impressive play threatened to ECLIPSE her previous high score in Words With Friends.
  • The Moon eclipsed the Sun.

Origin / Etymology

From Old French eclipse, from Latin eclīpsis, from Ancient Greek ἔκλειψις (ékleipsis, “eclipse”), from ἐκλείπω (ekleípō, “I abandon, go missing, vanish”), from ἐκ (ek, “out”) and λείπω (leípō, “I leave behind”). Doublet of eclipsis.

Scrabble Score: 11

eclipse: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
eclipse: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
eclipse: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

eclipse: valid Words With Friends Word