1
- an 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（天体的）食：
an eclipse of the sun.
日食。
1.1
- figurative a loss of significance, power, or prominence in relation to another person or thing〈喻〉（在重要性、权力或声望等方面相对于另一人或物的）黯然失色：
the election result marked the eclipse of the traditional right and centre.
选举结果标志着传统的右翼和中间势力的没落。
1.2
- Ornithology a phase during which the distinctive markings of a bird (especially a male duck) are obscured by moulting of the breeding plumage【鸟】（尤指雄鸭换掉繁育期鲜艳羽毛后的）羽毛暗淡期：
as modifier eclipse plumage.（交配期后不复鲜艳的）非婚羽。
with obj.(常作be eclipsed)
1- (of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another celestial body)（一天体）遮掩（另一天体）的光, 食：
Jupiter was eclipsed by the Moon.
木星被月球遮住了。
1.1
- poetic/literary obscure or block out (light)〈诗/文〉遮暗, 遮掉（光）：
a sea of blue sky violently eclipsed by showers.
阵雨无情地遮暗了茫茫蓝天。
1.2
- deprive (someone or something) of significance, power, or prominence掩没（某人或物）的重要性 （或权力、声誉）,使黯然失色：
the state of the economy has eclipsed the environment as the main issue.
经济状况超过环境问题而成为主要问题。
短语
in eclipse
1
- losing or having lost significance, power, or prominence失势的, 失色的：
his political power was in eclipse.
他的政权已失势。
2
- Ornithology (especially of a male duck) in its eclipse plumage【鸟】（尤指雄鸭）披一身（不鲜艳）非婚羽的。
词源
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'.