/ klaʊd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] a grey or white mass made of very small drops of water, that floats in the sky :
The sun went behind a cloud.
The plane was flying in cloud most of the way.
—see also storm cloud , thundercloud
2.
[ C ] a large mass of sth in the air, for example dust or smoke, or a number of insects flying all together
3.
[ C ] something that makes you feel sad or anxious :
Her father's illness cast a cloud over her wedding day.
The only dark cloud on the horizon was that they might have to move house.
He still has a cloud of suspicion hanging over him .
•
IDIOMS
- every cloud has a silver lining
- on cloud nine
- under a cloud
—more at head noun
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] if sth clouds your judgement, memory, etc., it makes it difficult for you to understand or remember sth clearly :
Doubts were beginning to cloud my mind.
His judgement was clouded by jealousy.
2.
cloud (over) ( formal ) ( of sb's face ) to show sadness, fear, anger, etc.; to make sb look sad, afraid, angry, etc. :
[ v ]
Her face clouded over with anger.
[ vn ]
Suspicion clouded his face.
3.
[ vn ] cloud the issue to make sth you are discussing or considering less clear, especially by introducing subjects that are not connected with it
4.
[ v ] cloud (over) ( of the sky ) to fill with clouds :
It was beginning to cloud over.
5.
[ vn ] to make sth less pleasant or enjoyable :
His last years were clouded by financial worries.
6.
if glass, water, etc. clouds , or if sth clouds it, it becomes less transparent :
[ v ]
Her eyes clouded with tears.
[ vn ]
Steam had clouded the mirror.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English clūd mass of rock or earth ; probably related to clot . Sense 1 dates from Middle English .