(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a mass of water vapour that floats in the sky. Clouds are usually white or grey in colour.
...the varied shapes of the ~s...
The sky was almost entirely obscured by ~.
...the risks involved in flying through ~.
N-VAR
2.
A ~ of something such as smoke or dust is a mass of it floating in the air.
The hens darted away on all sides, raising a ~ of dust.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
3.
If you say that something ~s your view of a situation, you mean that it makes you unable to understand the situation or judge it properly.
Perhaps anger had ~ed his vision, perhaps his judgment had been faulty...
In his latter years religious mania ~ed his mind.
VERB: V n, V n
4.
If you say that something ~s a situation, you mean that it makes it unpleasant.
The atmosphere has already been ~ed by the BJP’s anger at the media.
VERB: V n
5.
If glass ~s or if moisture ~s it, tiny drops of water cover the glass, making it difficult to see through.
The mirror ~ed beside her cheek...
I run the water very hot, ~ing the mirror.
= mist
VERB: V, V n
6.
If you say that someone is on ~ nine, you are emphasizing that they are very happy. (INFORMAL)
When Michael was born I was on ~ nine.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR emphasis
7.
every ~ has a silver lining: see silver lining