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noun \ˈklau̇d\

Simple Definition of cloud

  • : a white or gray mass in the sky that is made of many very small drops of water

  • : a large amount of smoke, dust, etc., that hangs in the air

  • : a large number of things (such as insects) that move together through the air in a group

Full Definition of cloud


  2. 2 :  something resembling or suggesting a cloud: as a :  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> b (1) :  a usually visible mass of minute particles suspended in the air or a gas (2) :  an aggregation of usually obscuring matter especially in interstellar space (3) :  an aggregate of charged particles (as electrons) c :  a great crowd or multitude :  swarm <clouds of mosquitoes>

  3. 3 :  something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect <clouds of war> <a cloud of suspicion>

  4. 4 :  something that obscures or blemishes <a cloud of ambiguity>

  5. 5 :  a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)

  6. 6 :  the computers and connections that support cloud computing <storing files in the cloud>

Examples of cloud

  1. The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky.

  2. flying high above the clouds

  3. It stopped raining and the sun poked through the clouds.

  4. a cloud of cigarette smoke

  5. The team has been under a cloud since its members were caught cheating.

  6. There's a cloud of controversy hanging over the election.

Illustration of cloud

Origin of cloud

Middle English, rock, cloud, from Old English clūd; perhaps akin to Greek gloutos buttock

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

Rhymes with cloud




Simple Definition of cloud

  • : to confuse (a person's mind or judgment)

  • : to make (something, such as an issue or situation) difficult to understand

  • : to affect (something) in a bad way

Full Definition of cloud

  1. intransitive verb
  2. 1 :  to grow cloudy —usually used with over or up <clouded over before the storm>

  3. 2 a of facial features :  to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance <her face clouded with worry> b :  to become blurry, dubious, or ominous —often used with over <the outlook is clouding over>

  4. 3 :  to billow up in the form of a cloud

  5. transitive verb
  6. 1 a :  to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud b :  to make opaque especially by condensation of moisture <steam clouded the windows> c :  to make murky especially with smoke or mist <smoke clouded the sky>

  7. 2 :  to make unclear or confused <cloud the issue>

  8. 3 :  taint, sully <a clouded reputation>

  9. 4 :  to cast gloom over <cloud prospects for success>

Examples of cloud

  1. greed clouding the minds of men

  2. These new ideas only cloud the issue further.

  3. The final years of her life were clouded by illness.


First Known Use of cloud


Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cloud? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).


February 10, 2016

to put in good humor

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