Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Eclipse \E*clipse"\, v. i.
   To suffer an eclipse.

         While the laboring moon Eclipses at their charms.
                                                  --Milton.

Eclipse \E*clipse"\, n. [F. ['e]clipse, L. eclipsis, fr. Gr. ?,
   prop., a forsaking, failing, fr. ? to leave out, forsake; ?
   out + ? to leave. See {Ex-}, and {Loan}.]
   1. (Astron.) An interception or obscuration of the light of
      the sun, moon, or other luminous body, by the intervention
      of some other body, either between it and the eye, or
      between the luminous body and that illuminated by it. A
      lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing through the
      earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon coming
      between the sun and the observer. A satellite is eclipsed
      by entering the shadow of its primary. The obscuration of
      a planet or star by the moon or a planet, though of the
      nature of an eclipse, is called an occultation. The
      eclipse of a small portion of the sun by Mercury or Venus
      is called a transit of the planet.

   Note: In ancient times, eclipses were, and among
         unenlightened people they still are, superstitiously
         regarded as forerunners of evil fortune, a sentiment of
         which occasional use is made in literature.

               That fatal and perfidious bark, Built in the
               eclipse, and rigged with curses dark. --Milton.

   2. The loss, usually temporary or partial, of light,
      brilliancy, luster, honor, consciousness, etc.;
      obscuration; gloom; darkness.

            All the posterity of our fist parents suffered a
            perpetual eclipse of spiritual life.  --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

            As in the soft and sweet eclipse, When soul meets
            soul on lovers' lips.                 --Shelley.

   {Annular eclipse}. (Astron.) See under {Annular}.

   {Cycle of eclipses}. See under {Cycle}.

Eclipse \E*clipse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Eclipsed}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Eclipsing}.]
   1. To cause the obscuration of; to darken or hide; -- said of
      a heavenly body; as, the moon eclipses the sun.

   2. To obscure, darken, or extinguish the beauty, luster,
      honor, etc., of; to sully; to cloud; to throw into the
      shade by surpassing. ``His eclipsed state.'' --Dryden.

            My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.   --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

eclipse
     n : one celestial body obscures another [syn: {occultation}]
     v 1: exceed in importance; outweigh; "This problem overshadows
          our lives right now" [syn: {overshadow}]
     2: cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention; "The
        Sun eclipses the moon today"; "Planets and stars often are
        occulted by other celestial bodies" [syn: {occult}]
     3: cause an eclipse of; of celestial bodies; "The moon eclipsed
        the sun"

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

ECLIPSE
     
        A {Prolog} + {CLP} compiler from {ECRC}.