cloud
The definition of a cloud is a visible mass of small water droplets or ice particles which are suspended in the sky.
Facts About Clouds
- When a cloud forms in space, it is known as an interstellar cloud, or a nebula.
- Three components are necessary for clouds to form: water vapor, cool or cold air, and condensation nuclei.
- A white cloud means that the cloud was formed with warm air. A grey, or a black cloud, means that the cloud contains larger drops of water.
- There are four main types of clouds:
- Cumulus - the white and puffy clouds in the sky, generally under 7,000 feet in altitude. Made up almost entirely of water drops.
- Stratus - the flatter clouds that stretch over greater lengths of distance in the sky, generally under 7,000 feet in altitude. Made up almost entirely of water drops.
- Cirrus - clouds which are extremely high in the sky, generally over 18,000 feet, and are very thin and feathery looking. Composed primarily of ice crystals.
- Cumulonimbus - clouds which go the highest of all clouds, up to 60,000 feet. They produce storms, thunder and lightening.
An example of a cloud is what makes the sky dark on a rainy day.
Cloud is defined as a mass of smoke, dust, steam or a mass of things suspended in the air.
(noun)- An example of a cloud is what forms in the air just after a large explosion.
- An example of a cloud is the formation of steam above a factory.
- An example of a cloud is a large group of locusts traveling through the air.
To cloud is defined as to darken, cover or make gloomy.
(verb)An example of to cloud is fog covering a view of the landscape.
See cloud in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a visible mass of tiny, condensed water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere: clouds are commonly classified in four groups: A (high clouds above 6,096 m or 20,000 ft) cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus; B (intermediate clouds, 1,981 m to 6,096 m or 6,500 to 20,000 ft) altostratus, altocumulus; C (low clouds, below 1,981 m or 6,500 ft) stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus; D (clouds of great vertical continuity) cumulus, cumulonimbus
- a mass of smoke, dust, steam, etc.
- a great number of things close together and in motion: a cloud of locusts
- an appearance of murkiness or dimness, as in a liquid
- a dark marking, as in marble
- anything that darkens, obscures, threatens, or makes gloomy
Origin: ME cloude, clude, orig., mass of rock, hence, mass of cloud < OE clud, mass of rock: for IE base see climb
transitive verb
- to cover or make dark as with clouds
- to make muddy or foggy
- to darken; obscure; threaten
- to make gloomy or troubled
- to cast slurs on; sully (a reputation, etc.)
intransitive verb
- to become cloudy
- to become gloomy or troubled
See cloud in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. A visible body of very fine water droplets or ice particles suspended in the atmosphere at altitudes ranging up to several miles above sea level.b. A mass, as of dust, smoke, or steam, suspended in the atmosphere or in outer space.
- A large moving body of things in the air or on the ground; a swarm: a cloud of locusts.
- Something that darkens or fills with gloom.
- A dark region or blemish, as on a polished stone.
- Something that obscures.
- Suspicion or a charge affecting a reputation.
- A collection of charged particles: an electron cloud.
- To cover with or as if with clouds: Mist clouded the hills.
- To make gloomy or troubled.
- To obscure: cloud the issues.
- To cast aspersions on; sully: Scandal clouded the officer's reputation.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English, hill, cloud
Origin: , from Old English clūd, rock, hill
.Related Forms:
- cloudˈless adjective
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