cloud

¹cloud

noun, often attributive \ˈklau̇d\

Definition of CLOUD

1

: a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (as the earth) or moon

2

: something resembling or suggesting a cloud: as a : a light filmy, puffy, or billowy mass seeming to float in the air <a cloud of blond hair> <a ship under a cloud of sail> b (1) : a usually visible mass of minute particles suspended in the air or a gas (2) : an aggregation of usually obscuring matter especially in interstellar space (3) : an aggregate of charged particles (as electrons) c : a great crowd or multitude : swarm <clouds of mosquitoes>

3

: something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect <clouds of war> <a cloud of suspicion>

4

: something that obscures or blemishes <a cloud of ambiguity>

5

: a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)

Examples of CLOUD

1. The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky.
2. flying high above the clouds
3. It stopped raining and the sun poked through the clouds.
4. a cloud of cigarette smoke
5. The team has been under a cloud since its members were caught cheating.
6. There's a cloud of controversy hanging over the election.

Illustration of CLOUD

Origin of CLOUD

Middle English, rock, cloud, from Old English clūd; perhaps akin to Greek gloutos buttock

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CLOUD

Synonyms: darkness, pall, shadow

Related Words: cloudage; fog, haze, mist, murk, penumbra, umbra; midnight, night; mantle, shroud, veil

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Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

Rhymes with CLOUD

boughed, bowed, browed, crowd, loud, proud, shroud, stroud