shroud

1 of 2

noun

ˈshrau̇d 

 especially Southern  ˈsrau̇d

1

: burial garment : winding-sheet, cerement

2

: something that covers, screens, or guards: such as

a

: one of two flanges that give peripheral support to turbine or fan bedding

b

: a guard (as of ceramic or fiberglass) that protects a spacecraft from the heat of launching

3

a

: one of the ropes leading usually in pairs from a ship's mastheads to give lateral support to the masts

b

: one of the cords that suspend the harness of a parachute from the canopy

4

obsolete : shelter, protection

Illustration of shroud

• 1 shroud 3a

shroud

2 of 2

verb

shrouded; shrouding; shrouds

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut off from view : obscure

trees shrouded by fog

this point is shrouded in uncertainty

—Henry James

b

: to veil under another appearance (as by obscuring or disguising)

shrouded the decision in a series of formalities

2

: to dress for burial

3

a

archaic : to cover for protection

b

obsolete : conceal

intransitive verb

archaic : to seek shelter

Synonyms

Noun

• veil
• cloak
• wraps
• pall
• blanket

Verb

• conceal
• hide
• obscure
• cover
• veil
• mask
• cloak
• curtain

Examples of shroud in a Sentence

Noun

the truth of the affair will always be hidden under a shroud of secrecy

Verb

The mountains were shrouded in fog.

Their work is shrouded in secrecy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After spending the first part of the season distraught over potentially being married off to the Duke through a shroud financial deal negotiated by her parents, Gladys finally walked down the aisle. —Stacy Lambe, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025

These events are tougher to see in galaxies with dense dusty shrouds, however. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 July 2025

Verb

Still luxurious, still driven by French technique, still underscored by classical dishes, yet still shrouded by the reputation and menus of the Inn’s meat and potato past. —Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Although much about the exact specifications of the Su-57 and the F-22 are shrouded in secrecy, the Raptor generally comes out on top as the most advanced aircraft, Mertens said. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, garment, from Old English scrūd; akin to Old English scrēade shred — more at shred entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a

Phrases Containing shroud

• futtock shroud

Rhymes for shroud

• bowed
• browed
• cloud
• coude
• cowed
• crowd
• dowd
• loud
• ploughed
• plowed
• proud
• sowed

Kids Definition

shroud

1 of 2 noun

ˈshrau̇d 

1

: the cloth placed over or around a dead body

2

: something that covers or shelters like a shroud

a shroud of secrecy

3

: one of the ropes that go from the masthead of a ship to the sides to provide support to the mast

shroud

2 of 2 verb

: to cover with or as if with a shroud

shrouded in fog