cloud

1 of 2

noun

ˈklau̇d 

1

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

2

: something resembling or suggesting a cloud: such 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 (such 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)

6

: the computers and connections that support cloud computing

storing files in the cloud

—often used before another noun

cloud storage/backup

cloud software

cloudlike

ˈklau̇d-ˌlīk 

adjective

or cloud-like

cloudlike swirls

cloudlike chocolate mousse

Illustration of cloud

• 1 cirrus
• 2 cirrostratus
• 3 cirrocumulus
• 4 altostratus
• 5 altocumulus
• 6 stratocumulus
• 7 nimbostratus
• 8 cumulus
• 9 cumulonimbus
• 10 stratus

cloud

2 of 2

verb

clouded; clouding; clouds

intransitive verb

1

: to grow cloudy

—usually used with over or up

clouded over before the storm

2

a

of facial features : to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance

her face clouded with worry

b

: to become blurry, dubious, or ominous

—often used with over

the outlook is clouding over

3

: to billow up in the form of a cloud

transitive verb

1

a

: to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud

b

: to make opaque especially by condensation of moisture

steam clouded the windows

c

: to make murky especially with smoke or mist

smoke clouded the sky

2

: to make unclear or confused

cloud the issue

3

: taint, sully

a clouded reputation

4

: to cast gloom over

cloud prospects for success

Synonyms of cloud

Noun

• pall
• fog
• shadow
• veil
• haze
• darkness

Verb

• obscure
• blur
• darken
• mist
• fog

Examples of cloud in a Sentence

Noun

The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky.

flying high above the clouds

It stopped raining and the sun poked through the clouds.

a cloud of cigarette smoke

The team has been under a cloud since its members were caught cheating.

There's a cloud of controversy hanging over the election.

Verb

greed clouding the minds of men

These new ideas only cloud the issue further.

The final years of her life were clouded by illness.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With a full roster in hand, the group will call employees directly, pretending to be a new hire with innocuous-seeming questions about platforms, cloud access, and other tech infrastructure. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026

Verb

Mixed results in recent economic data have clouded the outlook for the economy -- and in turn, interest rates. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026

The near-term outlook for copper demand growth has been clouded by weakness in China, the world’s top consumer of the red metal. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing cloud

• cast a (dark) cloud
• cloud chamber
• cloud computing
• cloud cover
• cloud-cuckoo-land
• cloud ear
• cloud forest
• cloud kitchen
• cloud nine
• cloud on the horizon
• cloud someone's judgment
• cloud street
• electron cloud
• every cloud has a silver lining
• funnel cloud
• mushroom cloud
• noctilucent cloud
• on cloud nine
• Oort cloud
• storm cloud
• under a cloud of suspicion

Rhymes for cloud

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

Kids Definition

cloud

1 of 2 noun

ˈklau̇d 

1

: a visible mass of particles of water or ice in the form of fog, mist, or haze usually high in the air

2

a

: a usually visible mass of tiny particles in the air or bits of matter between stars

b

: a group of charged particles (as electrons)

3

: something resembling or thought to be like a cloud

a cloud of mosquitoes

under a cloud of suspicion

4

: something that appears dark or threatening

clouds of war

5

: the computers and connections that support cloud computing

storing files in the cloud

cloudless

-ləs

adjective

cloud

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make or become cloudy

2

: to darken or hide with or as if by a cloud

smog clouded our view