I. ˈklau̇d noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, rock, cloud, from Old English clūd; perhaps akin to Greek gloutos buttock
Date: 14th century
1. : a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (as the earth) or moon
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
cloud s of mosquitoes
3. : something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect
cloud s of war
a cloud of suspicion
4. : something that obscures or blemishes
a cloud of ambiguity
5. : a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)
[
cloud 1: 1 cirrus, 2 cirrostratus, 3 cirrocumulus, 4 altostratus, 5 altocumulus, 6 stratocumulus, 7 nimbostratus, 8 cumulus, 9 cumulonimbus, 10 stratus
]
II. verb
Date: 1562
intransitive verb
1. : to grow cloudy — usually used with over or up
cloud ed over before the storm
2.
a. of facial features : to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance
her face cloud ed with worry
b. : to become blurry, dubious, or ominous — often used with over
the outlook is cloud ing over
3. : to billow up in the form of a cloud
transitive verb
1.
a. : to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud
smog cloud ed our view
b. : to make opaque especially by condensation of moisture
steam cloud ed the windows
c. : to make murky especially with smoke or mist
smoke cloud ed the sky
2. : to make unclear or confused
cloud the issue
3. : taint , sully
a cloud ed reputation
4. : to cast gloom over
cloud prospects for success