total eclipse

noun

: an eclipse in which one celestial body is completely obscured by the shadow or body of another

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For this upcoming eclipse, viewers in some parts of the world will see a total eclipse, while others will see an annular eclipse. Stefanie Waldek, House Beautiful, 30 Mar. 2023 Typically, during a total eclipse, the sky will darken and people watching will be able to see the sun's corona, since the moon blocks the sun. Christopher Brito, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2023 In a total eclipse, the moon fully blocks out the sun. Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2023 So when the two line up in the sky, voila: total eclipse of the heart sun. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2023 The total eclipse of October 6, 1241, broadly visible across Southern Europe and Asia Minor, had a major impact on coin design. Richard Jakiel, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2019 Astronomers say the next total eclipse seen from the contiguous United States won't happen again until August 2044. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Mar. 2023 Some lucky folks in Texas, meanwhile, will get a double solar whammy when the annular eclipse passes over the same location as the total eclipse six months later. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2023 The Norwegian islands of Svalbard, an archipelago some 500 miles north of the mainland, is at risk of overcrowding as visitors arrive to see a rare total eclipse of the sun on March 20, Reuters reports. The Editors, Outside Online, 13 Mar. 2015 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'total eclipse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of total eclipse was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near total eclipse

Cite this Entry

“Total eclipse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/total%20eclipse. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

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