Eclipse
/ɪˈklɪps/
nounverbB2
Definition
An eclipse happens when one object moves in front of another and blocks its light, usually in space, like the Moon covering the Sun (solar eclipse) or the Earth blocking the Sun's light from the Moon (lunar eclipse). The word can also describe a situation where one thing becomes less important because something else takes attention away.
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See It in Action
Astronomical event of blocking light
- •The solar eclipse made the sky dark during the day.
- •We watched the lunar eclipse through a telescope.
- •Total eclipses happen when the Sun is completely covered.
To become less important or less noticed
- •Her success eclipsed all her classmates’ achievements.
- •The new singer quickly eclipsed the old stars.
- •His reputation was eclipsed by a scandal.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "eclipse" like "hide," but much bigger and more complete—one thing covers another fully or partly
- ✓Picture the Moon slowly moving in front of the Sun, making the bright light disappear or become dark
- ✓It's the feeling when something or someone you like suddenly seems less important because something else is more interesting
- ✓Sounds like "e-CLIPS" → imagine a clip that closes over a bright light, blocking it out
- ✓Remember famous solar eclipses when people watch the sky and the day becomes dark suddenly
- ✓NOT like "shadow" (a shadow is smaller and caused by light blocked nearby), "eclipse" is a large event often in space
- ✓NOT like "cover" (which can be temporary or light), "eclipse" means a strong blocking of light or attention
- ✓As a verb, "to eclipse" means to make something less important by being better or more noticeable
Try Other Words
- •Cover: to put something over another (Use when the blocking is physical but less dramatic than an eclipse)
- •Overshadow: to be more important or noticeable than something else (Use when talking about importance or attention)
- •Block: to stop light or movement (Use for physical or general stopping, less formal than eclipse)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Latin "e-" (out) + "clipsare" (to fail, to cease) → meaning to darken or fail to shine
- •Etymology: comes from Latin "eclipsis," from Greek "ekleipsis," meaning "a leaving out" or "abandonment"
- •Historical development: originally meant absence or failure of light, later used for the astronomical event
- •Modern usage: used for both space events and metaphorically for making something less important or less visible
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be "eclipsed" in everyday life, like a feeling or an idea? How would that happen?
•Why do you think people find eclipses in space so interesting or important?
Fill in the blanks
1.A solar eclipse happens when the Moon ___ the Sun’s light completely or partly.
2.When a new star appears, it can ___ the older stars by becoming more popular.
3.During the eclipse, the sky became ___ dark even though it was daytime.
4.The singer’s success ___ the achievements of all other musicians in the contest.
5.People use special glasses to safely watch a solar eclipse because the Sun’s light is ___.
6.An eclipse is different from a shadow because it usually involves ___ objects in space.
7.When something is eclipsed, it often means it is ___ noticed or less important.