clouding

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The act or process of becoming cloudy or less clear, often used figuratively for thoughts or vision.

   Grammar: Uncountable; it refers to a state or process, not a countable thing.

   Patterns

   • clouding of something
   • clouding in something

   The clouding of the water made it hard to see the fish.

   There was a clouding of his judgment after the accident.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   Present participle of 'cloud': making something less clear or transparent.

   Grammar: As a participle, it can be transitive (clouding the issue) or intransitive (the sky is clouding over).

   Patterns

   • clouding something
   • clouding over

   The steam was clouding the mirror.

   The sky is clouding over; it might rain soon.

Word forms

Common combinations

clouding of the lens

Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens in the eye.

clouding of consciousness

The patient showed a clouding of consciousness after the stroke.

clouding the issue

His irrelevant comments were clouding the issue.

clouding over

The sky is clouding over, so we should go inside.

Synonyms and how they differ

obscuring

Obscuring emphasizes blocking from view, while clouding often suggests a gradual or partial loss of clarity.

muddying

Muddying is used figuratively for making something confusing, especially ideas; clouding is broader and can be literal or figurative.

Opposites

Word family

cloud noun

A visible mass of water droplets in the sky.

cloudy adjective

Full of clouds; not clear.

clouded adjective

Made less clear or transparent.

Commonly confused: clouding or clowding?

Practice

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