cloud

 
Pronunciation: /klaʊd/

noun

  • 1a visible mass of condensed watery vapour floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground: the sun had disappeared behind a cloud [mass noun]: the sky was almost free of cloud
  • an indistinct or billowing mass, especially of smoke or dust: a cloud of dust
  • a large number of insects or birds moving together: clouds of orange butterflies
  • an opaque patch within a transparent substance.
  • 2used to refer to a state or cause of gloom, suspicion, trouble, or worry: the only cloud on the immediate horizon is raising a mortgage
  • a frowning or depressed look: a cloud passed over Jessica’s face
  • 3 (often the cloud) Computing a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet and used to store, manage, and process data in place of local servers or personal computers: there’s a rich, complex, shared data store in the cloud email filtering inside the cloud plus anti-virus on the desktop

verb

  • 1 [no object] (of the sky) become overcast or gloomy: the blue skies clouded over abruptly
  • [with object] darken (the sky) with cloud: the western sky was still clouded
  • 2make or become less clear or transparent: [with object]: blood pumped out, clouding the water [no object]: her eyes clouded with tears
  • [with object] make (a matter or mental process) unclear or uncertain: don’t allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgement
  • [with object] spoil (something): the general election was clouded by violence
  • 3 [no object] (of someone’s face or eyes) show an emotion such as worry, sorrow, or anger: his expression clouded over
  • [with object] (of an emotion such as worry, sorrow, or anger) show in (someone’s face): suspicion clouded her face

Phrases

every cloud has a silver lining

see silver.

in the clouds

out of touch with reality: this clergyman was in the clouds

on cloud nine (or seven)

extremely happy: I was on cloud nine once I had completed it
[with reference to a ten-part classification of clouds in which ‘nine’ was next to the highest]

under a cloud

under suspicion or discredited: he left under something of a cloud, accused of misappropriating funds

with one's head in the clouds

(of a person) out of touch with reality; daydreaming: he’s always got his head in the clouds

Derivatives

cloudless

adjective

cloudlessly

adverb

cloudlet

noun

Origin:

Old English clūd 'mass of rock or earth'; probably related to clot. cloud (sense 1 of the noun) dates from Middle English