/kyooh'myeuh loh nim"beuhs/ , n. , pl. cumulonimbus .
a cloud of a class indicative of thunderstorm conditions, characterized by large, dense towers that often reach altitudes of 30,000 ft. (9000 m) or more, cumuliform except for their tops, which appear fibrous because of the presence of ice crystals: occurs as a single cloud or as a group with merged bases and separate tops. Also called thundercloud, thunderclouds, thunderhead .
[ 1885-90; CUMULO- + NIMBUS ]