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cumulus Definition

cu·mu·lus (kyo̵̅o̅′myə ləs)

noun pl. cumuli -·li′ (-lī′)

  1. a heap; mass; pile
  2. the type of bright, billowy cloud with a dark, flat base, that develops vertically through all cloud levels and consists mostly of water droplets

Etymology: L, a heap < IE *u-melos, a swelling, increase < base *eu-, a swelling > cave

cumulus Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • well-develop: But there were well-developed cumulus cloud to be seen associated with troughs in Liverpool Bay ( sferics seen later ) and over Snowdonia.
  • pass: Some passing fair-weather cumulus over Anglesey gave way to almost clear skies during the afternoon.
  • leave: Later in the afternoon into the evening the sky cleared over most of the island leaving towering cumulus over the mainland mountains.

Adjective modifier

  • towering: Over the hills towering cumulus started to shoot up in rows.
  • small: Intense devils may eventually be topped by a small cumulus.
  • white: But, with nothing save the odd patch of fluffy white cumulus in the sky, I wasn't worried about the weather turning.
  • low: Here are two of the anvils with a bank of lower cumulus in the foreground.
  • large: In summer, the growth of increasingly large cumulus often heralds the arrival of the front.
  • fair: At noon there were many fair weather cumulus over Anglesey but cloud development to the N and S continued.

Modifies a noun

  • cloud: The day was sunny, between the frequent cumulus clouds; there were no further showers during the during the day.
  • cell: Three out of 8 eggs that received nucleus transplant from cumulus cells reached the 4 to 6 cell stage.
  • congestus: Cumulus congestus, Wolstanton, August 2002 Crepuscular Rays, on the same day as the above photo.
  • development: It seems that the eclipse did modify the normal pattern of cumulus development, with the weather type prevalent on 11 August.
  • humilis: Fair weather cumulus humilis are the only likely clouds to be created.
  • convection: Processes occurring below the model grid scale, such as cumulus convection, must be represented approximately or ` parameterized ' .

Noun used with modifier

  • weather: Strong daytime sea breezes produce fair weather cumulus clouds on the immediate coastline.
  • afternoon: In the afternoon cumulus clouds were well-developed and showers heavier.
  • morning: During the morning cumulus activity diminished but cloud remained to the SW with veils of high cirrus.