— cloudlike , adj.
/klowd/ , n.
1. a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation above the earth's surface.
2. any similar mass, esp. of smoke or dust.
3. a dim or obscure area in something otherwise clear or transparent.
4. a patch or spot differing in color from the surrounding surface.
5. anything that obscures or darkens something, or causes gloom, trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.
6. a great number of insects, birds, etc., flying together: a cloud of locusts obscuring the sun.
7. in the clouds ,
a. in a condition of absent-mindedness; lost in reverie.
b. impractical: Their schemes are usually up in the clouds.
8. on a cloud , Informal. exceedingly happy; in high spirits: On the night of the prom the seniors were on a cloud.
9. under a cloud , in disgrace; under suspicion: After going bankrupt he left town under a cloud.
v.t.
10. to overspread or cover with, or as with, a cloud or clouds: The smoke from the fire clouded the sun from view.
11. to overshadow; obscure; darken: The hardships of war cloud his childhood memories.
12. to make gloomy.
13. (of distress, anxiety, etc.) to reveal itself in (a part of one's face): Worry clouded his brow.
14. to make obscure or indistinct; confuse: Don't cloud the issue with unnecessary details.
15. to place under suspicion, disgrace, etc.
16. to variegate with patches of another color.
v.i.
17. to grow cloudy; become clouded.
18. (of a part of one's face) to reveal one's distress, anxiety, etc.: His brow clouded with anger.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE clud rock, hill; prob. akin to CLOD ]
Syn. 1. vapor. 6. swarm, horde, multitude, throng, host, crowd, army. 7. CLOUD, FOG, HAZE, MIST differ somewhat in their figurative uses. CLOUD connotes esp. daydreaming: His mind is in the clouds. FOG and HAZE connote esp. bewilderment or confusion: to go around in a fog ( haze ). MIST has an emotional connotation and suggests tears: a mist in one's eyes. 14. muddle, distort.