shroud

1 of 2

noun

ˈshrau̇d How to pronounce shroud (audio)
especially Southern ˈsrau̇d
Synonyms of shroudnext
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

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 uncertaintyHenry 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Mamdani emerged from this shroud of mystery triumphant, posting a photograph on X of himself, firmly straight-faced, standing alongside the grinning President. Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026 Wrapped in a biodegradable shroud of silk or wool, the body is placed in a pressurized chamber where a blend of hot water and chemicals accelerates natural decomposition. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Although Messi was silent throughout, his appearance seemed to speak volumes for a player whose politics have largely been shrouded in mystery. ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 But the identities of those interviewees are shrouded in secrecy, as is much of the process around this strange but profound endeavor. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shroud

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of shroud was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Shroud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shroud. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

shroud

1 of 2 noun
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

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