student asking question

Doesn't the word "eclipse" refer to a natural phenomenon? Or does it have another metaphorical definition, perhaps?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes, as a noun, "eclipse" describes the natural phenomenon when one object in the sky is moved into the shadow of another. However as a verb, "eclipse" can refer to the process of something being surpassed, exceeded, or overshadowed by another thing. Ex: Her score on the test eclipsed everyone else's. Ex: The second movie eclipsed the first.

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