cloud

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A white or gray mass of tiny water drops or ice crystals floating in the sky.

   Grammar: Countable for a single cloud: a dark cloud. Uncountable for general cover: there was cloud all day.

   Patterns

   • a cloud of something

   A single dark cloud drifted over the hill.

   There was thick cloud over the city all morning.

   The pilot flew above the clouds into bright sunshine.

2. 2nounsingularcomputing

   Remote computer servers on the internet that store and run data and programs, instead of your own device.

   Grammar: Usually the cloud: files stored in the cloud.

   Patterns

   • in the cloud
   • stored in the cloud

   My photos are backed up in the cloud.

   The company moved all its software to the cloud.

   You can reach the document from any device if it is in the cloud.

3. 3nouncountable

   A large mass of smoke, dust, gas, or tiny particles that looks like a cloud.

   Grammar: Usually followed by of: a cloud of dust.

   Patterns

   • a cloud of something

   A cloud of dust rose behind the truck.

   The bus pulled away in a cloud of black smoke.

   A cloud of midges hung over the pond.

4. 4nouncountablefigurative

   Something that causes sadness, worry, or suspicion, or the feeling that comes with it.

   Grammar: Figurative; often in under a cloud or a cloud over something.

   Patterns

   • under a cloud
   • a cloud over something

   The scandal cast a cloud over the whole department.

   He left the company under a cloud after the audit.

   A cloud of worry hung over the family.

5. 5verbtransitive

   To make something harder to see, judge, or understand clearly.

   Grammar: Takes an object: anger clouded his judgment.

   Patterns

   • cloud something
   • cloud the issue

   Strong emotions can cloud your judgment.

   Steam clouded the bathroom mirror.

   Please do not cloud the issue with unrelated facts.

6. 6verbintransitive

   To become covered with clouds, or to become dim or troubled.

   Grammar: Often followed by over or up: the sky clouded over.

   Patterns

   • cloud over
   • cloud up

   The sky clouded over just before the picnic.

   Her face clouded when she heard the news.

   The lake clouded up after the heavy rain.

Word forms

Common combinations

dark cloud

A dark cloud moved in from the west.

cloud of smoke

A cloud of smoke rose over the barbecue.

cloud storage

I use cloud storage to keep my documents safe.

cloud your judgment

Fear can cloud your judgment in an emergency.

under a cloud

The mayor resigned under a cloud of suspicion.

on cloud nine

She was on cloud nine after winning the prize.

Synonyms and how they differ

mist

Mist is a thin layer of water droplets near the ground, while a cloud is higher and usually denser.

haze

Haze is a thin, dull layer of particles that blurs the view, while a cloud is a thick, defined mass.

blur

Blur as a verb means to make unclear, similar to cloud, but it mostly applies to edges, sight, or memory.

obscure

Obscure is more formal and means to hide or hide the meaning of something, while cloud suggests dimming or confusing it.

Opposites

Word family

cloudy adjective

covered with clouds, or not clear

cloudless adjective

without any clouds

clouded adjective

made unclear or dim

cloudiness noun

the state of being cloudy

cloudburst noun

a sudden, heavy fall of rain

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “cloud”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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