SINCE 1828
cumulonimbus
noun
cu·mu·lo·nim·bus
| \ ˈkyü-myə-(ˌ)lō-ˈnim-bəs
\
\
Definition of cumulonimbus
: cumulus cloud having a low base and often spread out in the shape of an anvil extending to great heights — see cloud illustration
Examples of cumulonimbus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The eyewall is the band or ring of cumulonimbus clouds that surround the eye of the storm. — Molly Rubin, Quartz, "Hurricane vocabulary: The difference between a typhoon, a cyclone, and a tropical storm," 12 July 2019 The dense cumulonimbus clouds threatened thunder and lightning. — Denise Coffey, courant.com, "Bernard Dubb Recognized For Skywarn Service," 28 June 2019 Low clouds fall into four divisions: cumulus, stratus, cumulonimbus, and stratocumulus. — Catherine Zuckerman, National Geographic, "Clouds, explained," 24 Apr. 2019 Would cirrus clouds bring the most apparitions, or cumulonimbus? — María Gainza, Harper's magazine, "Both Sides Now," 10 May 2019 There was a very tall cloud — probably a cumulonimbus — that was building right along the horizon as the sun was setting. — Jason Samenow, Washington Post, "This strange shadow was seen in Maryland and Pennsylvania on Saturday," 20 June 2018 Towering cumulonimbus clouds made for magical sunsets, and the warm, yellow rays of sunshine generated rainbows that were seen across Northern Virginia and Montgomery County. — Angela Fritz, Washington Post, "Beautiful photos of our semi-stormy weekend," 25 June 2018 In mid-afternoon, the giant bubblers, the cumulonimbus clouds, can then build vertically thousands of feet into the sky. — Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Mountain thunder, lightning mean summer has arrived," 21 May 2018 Thanks to Boise viewer Robin Hadder for sending in this picture of the towering cumulonimbus cloud that formed this evening in the Boise area. — Katy Moeller, idahostatesman, "Storm inundated Boise neighborhood Wednesday night. Is another soggy weekend ahead? | Idaho Statesman," 17 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cumulonimbus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on cumulonimbus
What made you want to look up cumulonimbus? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
What's that Smell?! Quiz
-
- Someone who is hircine smells like a:
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Share cumulonimbus
Resources for cumulonimbus