I. cloak 1 /kləʊk $ kloʊk/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old North French ; Origin: cloque 'bell, cloak' , from Medieval Latin clocca 'bell' ( ⇨ ↑ clock 1 ); because of its shape ]
1 . [countable] a warm piece of clothing like a coat without sleeves that hangs loosely from your shoulders
2 . [singular] an organization, activity, or way of behaving that deliberately protects someone or keeps something secret
cloak of
the cloak of secrecy around the affair
cloak for
The political party is used as a cloak for terrorist activities.
under the cloak of something
prejudice hiding under the cloak of religion
II. cloak 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive]
1 . to deliberately hide facts, feelings etc so that people do not see or understand them – used especially in news reports
cloaked in secrecy/mystery
The talks have been cloaked in secrecy.
2 . literary to cover something, for example with darkness or snow
cloak in
hills cloaked in mist
—cloaked adjective :
The riders were cloaked (=they wore cloaks) .