partial eclipse

British

noun

an eclipse, esp of the sun, in which the body is only partially hidden Compare total eclipse annular eclipse

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

partial eclipse Scientific

An eclipse in which only part of the surface of a celestial object is obscured.
See more at eclipse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Depending where you are, the partial eclipse looked as if the Moon was taking a nibble or a gigantic bite out of the Sun.

From BBC

Even during a partial eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye as it can cause eye damage, including blindness.

From BBC

Parts that are nearby will see a partial eclipse.

From BBC

The best views will be across the Americas where we'll see a total lunar eclipse, but in the UK it'll be a partial eclipse.

From BBC

The next partial eclipse will be in August 2026, which will be special as around 96% of the Moon will be in shadow.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023