cloud Meaning & Definition
What Does Cloud Mean?
As a noun, cloud means a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (such as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (such as the earth) or moon. It can also mean something resembling or suggesting a cloud. As a verb, it means to grow cloudy.
Cloud in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈklau̇d/ |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | obscure, overcast and mist |
| Antonyms | clear, light up and clear up |
| Plural | clouds |
| Verb forms | clouds, clouding, clouded |
Cloud Definition (Noun)
- a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (such as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (such as the earth) or moon
- something resembling or suggesting a cloud: such as
- a light filmy, puffy, or billowy mass seeming to float in the air
a cloud of blond hair / a ship under a cloud of sail
- a usually visible mass of minute particles suspended in the air or a gas
- an aggregation of usually obscuring matter especially in interstellar space
- an aggregate of charged particles (such as electrons)
- a great crowd or multitude : swarm
clouds of mosquitoes
- something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect
clouds of war / a cloud of suspicion
- something that obscures or blemishes
a cloud of ambiguity
- a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)
- the computers and connections that support cloud computing
storing files in the cloud
Cloud as a Verb
- to grow cloudy
- to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance
her face clouded with worry
- to become blurry, dubious, or ominous
- to billow up in the form of a cloud
- to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud
- to make opaque especially by condensation of moisture
steam clouded the windows
- to make murky especially with smoke or mist
smoke clouded the sky
- to make unclear or confused
cloud the issue
- taint, sully
a clouded reputation
- to cast gloom over
cloud prospects for success
Synonyms of Cloud
Antonyms of Cloud
Cloud in a Sentence
The ship moved forward under a cloud of sail.
He opened the door and was greeted by a cloud of bats.
The comic-book character's thoughts appeared in a cloud above his head.
The glass clouds when you breathe on it.
The sky is clouded.
All this talk about human rights is clouding the real issue.
Your emotions are clouding your judgement.
The tears began to well up and cloud my vision.
to cloud yarn
a cloud of blond hair
a ship under a cloud of sail
clouds of mosquitoes
clouds of war
a cloud of suspicion
a cloud of ambiguity
storing files in the cloud
her face clouded with worry
steam clouded the windows
smoke clouded the sky
cloud the issue
a clouded reputation
cloud prospects for success
all day we were under a cloud until we heard the good news
the diner's dark interior, clouded with smoke and grease
cloud the issue with obscure statistics
a cloud of blond hair / a ship under a cloud of sail
clouds of war / a cloud of suspicion
Word Forms & Grammar
cloud·like adjective
cloud
cloud-like
cloudlike
clouds
cloud·ed
cloud·ing
clouded
clouding
cloud (plural clouds)
cloud (third-person singular simple present clouds, present participle clouding, simple past and past participle clouded)
Words That Rhyme With Cloud
Origin of Cloud
Origin 1: Middle English, rock, cloud, from Old English clūd; perhaps akin to Greek gloutos buttock
Origin 2: From Middle English cloud, from Old English clūd (“mass of stone, rock, boulder, hill”), from Proto-West Germanic *klūt, from Proto-Germanic *klūtaz, *klutaz (“lump, mass, conglomeration”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to ball up, clench”).
Origin 3: Cognate with Scots clood, clud (“cloud”), Dutch kluit (“lump, mass, clod”), German Low German Kluut, Kluute (“lump, mass, ball”), German Kloß (“lump, ball, dumpling”), Danish klode (“sphere, orb, planet”), Swedish klot (“sphere, orb, ball, globe”), Icelandic klót (“knob on a sword's hilt”). Related to English clod, clot, clump, club. Largely replaced Middle English welkne, from Old English wolcn (whence English welkin), from Proto-Germanic *wulkną, the original Germanic word for cloud (compare Dutch wolk, German Wolke, North Frisian and West Frisian wolk).
First Known Use
14th century
1548t
How to Pronounce Cloud
Cloud is pronounced /ˈklau̇d/ and has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Cloud
Is cloud a noun or a verb?
Cloud is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for cloud?
You can replace cloud with words such as obscure, overcast and mist. See the full list of cloud synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of cloud?
Words opposite in meaning to cloud are clear, light up, clear up and brighten.
What is the plural of cloud?
The plural of cloud is clouds.
What is the past tense of cloud?
The past tense of cloud is clouded. The present participle is clouding.