1An obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination.

1. 1.1 A loss of significance or power in relation to another person or thing.
   the election result marked the eclipse of the traditional right

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The Fall of France thus reveals itself in the medium term as a crucial moment in the eclipse of European power.
   • Nevertheless, it is surprising to learn about the complete eclipse of the government sponsored agricultural research institution in this whole episode.
   • Few might have predicted the eclipse of this model, but it nevertheless occurred.
   • Prophets of doom are forever predicting the eclipse of Thailand as an international tourist destination.
   • Nothing prepared Egypt for the eclipse of royal power and poverty that came after Pepy II.
   • In short, the annulment has caused a backlash and the virtual eclipse of the power industry.
   • As a result of the eclipse, the consequences of secrecy are far more difficult than the results of honest and open communication.
   • In view of the continuing eclipse of his reputation, those were wise words.
   • Further, the rise of British naval power and the continuing eclipse of the Dutch navy during the war meant that Britain was confirmed as a major trading nation and one of the strongest economies of Europe.
   • The rise of Vancouver as a power centre coincided with the eclipse of Winnipeg, which by 1996 retained only one headquarters.
   • The suggestion is that his rancour at his relative eclipse within the huge family hierarchy had something to do with the fervour with which he embraced Islam.
   • There is the already encountered line of analysis that the eclipse of Soviet military power was not an accomplishment of the West, but rather an outcome self-inflicted by Soviet and Russian economic failure.
   • How far was the Second World War responsible for Western Europe's eclipse by other powers?

   Synonyms

   decline, fall, failure, decay, deterioration, degeneration, weakening, ebb, waning, withering, descent, sinking, slide, tumble, regression, lapse, collapse, comedown, crash

   outshining, overshadowing, surpassing, excelling, outclassing, outstripping, outdistancing, outdoing, transcending, dwarfing, upstaging, shaming

2Ornithology
A phase during which the distinctive markings of a bird (especially a male duck) are obscured by moulting of the breeding plumage.

1(of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another celestial body)

1. 1.1 Deprive (someone or something) of significance or power.
   the economy has eclipsed the environment as the main issue

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The national side soon began to eclipse the achievements of more established powers, including Scotland.
   • Now that the highly specialised Honda Insight hybrid is no longer officially on sale in the UK, we know of no other car likely to eclipse the petrol C1's economy in a typical driving environment.
   • That concept - aerospace power eclipsing the fog and friction of war - may be unobtainable, but it is still an important one to consider in terms of what it takes to make aerospace power work today and in the future.
   • By the twentieth century, Pompeii's metaphorical significance had largely eclipsed its moral charge.
   • Nevertheless, the taste for things English rivaled and soon eclipsed Dutch hegemony.
   • His drubbing by Chirac was soon eclipsed by even more extraordinary developments in the Netherlands.
   • The wonder of it all eclipsed the sadness I had felt earlier.
   • If anything has eclipsed his directing achievements in the past 20 years, it's his development work.
   • While the first two pieces are not entirely successful, the third and longest piece is so fabulous it completely eclipses what comes before it.
   • However well received the plays he had written since, none had eclipsed the haunting, poetic power of his first.
   • The challenge was to prevent the other major capitalist powers from exploiting this new situation and eclipsing the US.
   • If the European dream is quietly eclipsing the American dream, why are the Europeans touting China as the rising power that will eclipse the U.S?
   • In my view, Richard Nixon's personal shortcomings will eclipse his overall political record.
   • Some experts believe the roomy crossover model line could eventually eclipse the traditional sedan.
   • But they are totally eclipsed by the vivacity and originality of Vivaldi's three.
   • The housing renovations are almost complete and hubby Ford is an awfully busy scientist with a power career that eclipses most of the couple's concerns.
   • Despite the magnitude of these developments, they were overtaken and eventually eclipsed in the nineteenth century.
   • If the film gets made, that will definitely eclipse the book, because most people are more interested in movies.
   • He also observes that air power has completely eclipsed tanks' role as mobile artillery.
   • I just prefer an environment where they are not such cultural mainstays that they eclipse other artists I care to hear.

   Synonyms

   outshine, overshadow, put in the shade, surpass, exceed, excel, be superior to, outclass, outstrip, outdistance, outdo, top, cap, trump, transcend, tower above/over, dwarf, upstage, shame, put to shame

   informal be head and shoulders above, be a cut above

   archaic extinguish, outrival
2. 1.2literary Obscure or block out (light)
   a sea of blue sky violently eclipsed by showers

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Near the center of the darkness was a spherical, green and blue colored object, eclipsing the biggest light in the area.
   • Furry bodies eclipsed the fans of light spilling through the shutters, turning the scene surreal.
   • The Negotiator Class diplomatic cruiser eclipsed the light of a blue sun, highlighting battle worn scars along her hull like sunlight on a river.

   Synonyms

   blot out, block, cover, obscure, veil, shroud, hide, conceal, obliterate, darken, dim

   shade, cast a shadow over

   Astronomy occult