shroud

noun \ ˈshrau̇d , especially Southern ˈsrau̇d \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of shroud

1 obsolete : shelter, protection

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 : burial garment : winding-sheet, cerement

4 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

See shroud defined for English-language learners

See shroud defined for kids

Examples of shroud in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of shroud from the Web

The fairing is a $6 million shroud that protects the satellite during its turbulent ride through the atmosphere and into outer space.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "This is what a payload fairing looks like as it returns from space," 2 May 2018
Most of the mummies on display are still wrapped in their shrouds.

— stanley stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, "Road Trip: 5 Days in Northern Peru," 2 May 2018
The spokesman, Brian Wheeler, said that police officers were patrolling the monuments on Tuesday evening in case people tried to remove the shrouds on their own.

— matthew haag, New York Times, "Judge Orders Tarps Removed From Confederate Statues in Charlottesville," 27 Feb. 2018
The separation system was designed to first jettison the payload shroud that protected the satellite during the ascent through the atmosphere, followed by the satellite itself.

— anatoly zak, Popular Mechanics, "How Sputnik Worked," 4 Oct. 2017
The tahini clung to mushy tuna cubes in a bitter, chalky shroud.

— michael nagrant, RedEye Chicago, "Clever Rabbit boasts flavorful cocktails, but veggie-centric dishes lack freshness and seasoning," 18 July 2017
Christopher Sabatini, a lecturer of international relations and policy who has studied Cuba, said the shroud of mystery surrounding Díaz-Canel is by design.

— alan gomez, USA TODAY, "Cuba's next president? Who is Miguel Díaz-Canel," 17 Apr. 2018
Unembalmed bodies in a simple shroud or willow casket are buried in shallow graves under trees.

— The Economist, "Why undertakers are worried," 12 Apr. 2018
The burial of Christ was reenacted by placing a cloth shroud in a carved wooden tomb.

— joe songer, AL.com, "Awesome dogs and owners we saw at Mutt Strut 2018," 7 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shroud.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of shroud

Origin and Etymology of shroud

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

shroud Synonyms

Synonyms

blanket, cloak, cope, cover, cover-up, covering, curtain, hood, mantle, mask, pall, robe, veil, wraps;

Related Words

blind, concealer, screen, shield;

fig leaf, Trojan horse;

camouflage, disguise, facade (also façade), face, mask, veneer;

gloss, varnish;

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

shroud

verb

Definition of shroud

transitive verb

1 a archaic : to cover for protection

b obsolete : conceal

2 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

3 : to dress for burial

intransitive verb

archaic : to seek shelter

See shroud defined for English-language learners

Examples of shroud in a Sentence

The mountains were shrouded in fog.
Their work is shrouded in secrecy.

Recent Examples of shroud from the Web

Deeply impactful conditions are often shrouded in mystery, but awareness is raised when public figures speak out, for example when Lena Dunham opened up about her hysterectomy or Halsey shared her struggles with endometriosis.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "How to Tell If You Have Uterine Fibroids," 11 May 2018
Westworld season 2 is a puzzle wrapped in an enigma, shrouded by mystery.

— refinery29.com, "These Wild Bernard Theories Might Explain Westworld’s Biggest Mystery Right Now," 7 May 2018
Now, across from boarded or charred row houses, and shrouded by vacant land where homes used to be, sprout new, colorful, white-shingled houses.

— kia gregory, The Root, "Philadelphia’s Housing Authority Bought a High School: What Does That Mean for One of the City’s Poorest Neighborhoods?," 2 May 2018
This series chronicles relationships which began with the promise of an engagement, and explores dream weddings that are supposed to bring only the happiest memories of love and good times, but ultimately end up shrouded by mystery and murder.

— michael o'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, "Oxygen Sets Murder-Centric Slate, Adds Piers Morgan's 'Serial Killer'," 9 Apr. 2018
Though patriotic, it’s shrouded by the sense of doom that dogged the months following Pearl Harbor.

— kyle smith, National Review, "The Politics of John Ford’s Cinema," 31 Jan. 2018
In fact, in the film the sultan only sees her face in a mirror, shrouded by incense smoke.

— author: annie gowen, Anchorage Daily News, "Outraged women in India threaten mass suicide over Bollywood film," 26 Jan. 2018
In fact, in the film the sultan only sees her face in a mirror, shrouded by incense smoke.

— annie gowen, Washington Post, "Outraged women in India threaten mass suicide over Bollywood film," 25 Jan. 2018
Encryption, virtual private networks, and pseudonyms shroud the identity of even benign users.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "The Digital Vigilantes Who Hack Back," 30 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of shroud

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

shroud Synonyms

SHROUD Defined for English Language Learners

shroud

noun

Definition of shroud for English Language Learners

: a cloth that is used to wrap a dead body
: something that covers or hides something

shroud

verb

Definition of shroud for English Language Learners

: to cover or hide (something)

SHROUD Defined for Kids

shroud

noun \ ˈshrau̇d \

Definition of shroud for Students

1 : the cloth placed over or around a dead body

2 : something that covers or hides

a shroud of secrecy

shroud

verb

Definition of shroud for Students

shrouded; shrouding

: to cover or hide with or as if with a shroud

The road was shrouded in fog.

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See words that rhyme with shroud Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shroud Spanish Central: Translation of shroud Nglish: Translation of shroud for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shroud for Arabic speakers

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shroud

Definition of shroud

Examples of shroud in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shroud from the Web

Illustration of shroud

Origin and Etymology of shroud

shroud Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

shroud

Definition of shroud

Examples of shroud in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shroud from the Web

First Known Use of shroud

shroud Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

SHROUD Defined for English Language Learners

shroud

Definition of shroud for English Language Learners

shroud

Definition of shroud for English Language Learners

SHROUD Defined for Kids

shroud

Definition of shroud for Students

shroud

Definition of shroud for Students

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