Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

cloud

Syllabification: (cloud)
Pronunciation: /kloud/
Translate cloud | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of cloud

noun

  • 1a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground:the sun had disappeared behind a cloud the full moon, hidden by veils 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
  • a vague patch of color in or on a liquid or transparent surface.
  • 2a state or cause of gloom, suspicion, trouble, or worry:the only cloud to appear on the horizon was Leopold’s unexpected illness a black cloud hung over their lives
  • 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:$13 per month gets you 25GB of storage in the cloud [as modifier]:once you are logged in to your cloud storage space, you can upload files to it and share them with others

verb

  • 1 [no object] (of the sky) become overcast with clouds:the blue skies clouded over abruptly
  • [with object] darken (the sky) with clouds: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; confuse:don’t allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgment
  • [with object] spoil or mar (something):the general election was clouded by violence
  • 3 [no object] (of someone’s face or eyes) show worry, sorrow, or anger:his expression clouded over
  • [with object] (of such 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.

have one's head in the clouds

(of a person) be out of touch with reality; be daydreaming.

in the clouds

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

on cloud nine

extremely happy.
[with reference to a ten-part classification of clouds in which “nine” was next to the highest]

under a cloud

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

Derivatives

cloudless

adjective

cloudlessly

adverb

cloudlet

Pronunciation: /-lət/
noun

Origin:

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

cloud in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cloud in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Word of the day

ludology

/ lo͞oˈdäləjē /
noun
the study of games and gaming, especially video games …