cloud
cloud
Pronunciation
/klaʊd/.
/k/: The voiceless velar stop, like the "c" in "cat."
/l/: The voiced alveolar lateral approximant, like the "l" in "look."
/aʊ/: The diphthong, a vowel sound that starts with the "a" in "father" and glides towards the "oo" in "moon," similar to the "ow" in "cow."
/d/: The voiced alveolar stop, like the "d" in "dog."
Word Form Variations
Noun Forms:
Singular: cloud (e.g., "A single cloud drifted across the sky.")
Plural: clouds (e.g., "The sky was full of dark clouds.")
Verb Forms:
Base Form/Infinitive: cloud (e.g., "Don't let anger cloud your judgment.")
Third-person singular present: clouds (e.g., "The steam clouds the mirror.")
Past Simple: clouded (e.g., "His vision was clouded by tears.")
Past Participle: clouded (e.g., "Her mind had been clouded by fear.")
Present Participle/Gerund: clouding (e.g., "The mist is clouding the window.")
Adjective Forms (Derived from "cloud"):
cloudy: Covered with or characterized by clouds; also, not transparent or clear (e.g., "It was a cloudy day." "The water was cloudy.")
cloudless: Without any clouds (e.g., "A beautiful, cloudless sky.")
cloudlike: Resembling a cloud (e.g., "The dessert had a cloudlike texture.")
clouded: Filled with clouds; also, made unclear or obscure (e.g., "A clouded sky." "His reputation was clouded by the scandal.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Cloud (Noun)
Definition: A visible mass of condensed water vapor suspended in the atmosphere, often appearing as a white, gray, or dark formation in the sky, and sometimes bringing precipitation.
Synonyms: vapor, mist, fog, haze, cumulus (specific type), stratus (specific type)
Antonyms: clear sky, blue sky (referring to the absence of clouds)
Definition: A large, often dense, and indistinct mass of something, typically small particles, smoke, or a multitude of flying insects or objects.
Synonyms: swarm, puff, billow, plume, mass, cluster, dust (when referring to dust cloud)
Antonyms: scattering, dispersion, individual (when referring to distinct elements)
Definition: (Figurative) A state or feeling that obscures, darkens, or causes confusion, often of a negative emotional or mental nature.
Synonyms: pall, shadow, gloom, haze, veil, obscurity
Antonyms: clarity, illumination, brightness, understanding
Definition: (Informal, often capitalized as "The Cloud") A global network of remote servers that allows for the storage, management, and processing of data over the internet rather than on local servers or personal computers.
Synonyms: internet storage, remote server, data center, cyberspace (broader term)
Antonyms: local storage, on-premise server, physical hard drive
Cloud (Verb)
Definition: To become or cause to become covered with clouds, mist, or an opaque substance, thereby obscuring visibility or clarity.
Synonyms: obscure, darken, dim, fog, mist, blur, film
Antonyms: clear, brighten, clarify, illuminate, unveil
Definition: (Figurative) To make something less clear, understandable, or rational; to muddle or confuse, especially a thought process or judgment.
Synonyms: confuse, muddle, obscure, distort, impair, taint, overshadow
Antonyms: clarify, illuminate, enlighten, purify, sharpen
Definition: To form or rise into a cloud or a cloud-like mass.
Synonyms: billow, puff, swirl, accumulate, gather
Antonyms: dissipate, disperse, scatter, thin
Cloudy (Adjective)
Definition: (Of the sky or weather) Characterized by or filled with clouds; overcast.
Synonyms: overcast, gloomy, dull, sunless, gray
Antonyms: clear, sunny, bright, cloudless, radiant
Definition: (Of liquids or surfaces) Not transparent or clear; opaque or turbid, often due to suspended particles.
Synonyms: murky, hazy, turbid, opaque, unclear, milky
Antonyms: clear, transparent, pellucid, crystalline, translucent
Definition: (Figurative, of thoughts, memory, or understanding) Unclear, confused, or indistinct.
Synonyms: muddled, confused, hazy, vague, imprecise, fuzzy
Antonyms: clear, lucid, sharp, precise, distinct
Clouded (Adjective)
Definition: (Of the sky, a surface, or a liquid) Covered, filled, or made unclear by clouds, mist, or an opaque substance. (Often used as a past participle acting as an adjective).
Synonyms: overcast, murky, obscured, dimmed, blurred, filmed
Antonyms: clear, bright, uncovered, unblemished
Definition: (Figurative, of judgment, reputation, or emotions) Impaired, tainted, or obscured by something negative, such as doubt, sorrow, or scandal.
Synonyms: tainted, sullied, impaired, diminished, obscured, compromised
Antonyms: clear, pure, untarnished, impeccable, pristine
Examples of Use
Books:
"I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o'er vales and hills," (William Wordsworth, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, 1807). This classic poem uses "cloud" as a noun, representing a free and solitary entity.
"A great cloud of dust had gone up behind him, making him look like a comet from another world." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet Fire, 2000). Here, "cloud" is used as a noun to describe a mass of particles.
"Her mind was clouded by grief, making it difficult to think clearly." (Author's note - common literary device). In this example, "clouded" is an adjective describing a state of mind.
Newspapers:
"The tech giant announced a new initiative to expand its cloud computing services globally, aiming to reduce latency for users in remote areas." (The Wall Street Journal). This uses "cloud" as a noun referring to cloud computing.
"Experts warn of a growing cloud of uncertainty hanging over the global economy due to ongoing geopolitical tensions." (The New York Times). Here, "cloud" is a metaphorical noun, indicating an pervasive atmosphere of doubt.
"Heavy rain and cloudy skies are forecast for the weekend, disrupting outdoor plans for many." (Daily Nation, Nairobi, Kenya). "Cloudy" is an adjective describing the weather.
Online Publications:
"How to Migrate Your Business to the Cloud: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners" (Forbes.com). This headline uses "Cloud" as a proper noun, referring to cloud computing.
"New AI tool aims to lift the cloud of misinformation surrounding the upcoming elections." (TechCrunch.com). Here, "cloud" is a noun, used metaphorically to represent a mass of something negative, in this case, misinformation.
"Why is my laptop screen so cloudy? Troubleshooting tips for a hazy display." (Lifewire.com). "Cloudy" is an adjective describing the physical state of a screen.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In Cloud Atlas (2012), the title itself uses "cloud" metaphorically to suggest interconnectedness and vastness, representing the way souls and stories move through time.
Music: The song "Get Off My Cloud" by The Rolling Stones (1965) uses "cloud" as a metaphorical noun, representing a state of detached happiness or indifference that the singer wants to maintain.
Video Games: In many fantasy video games, spells or environmental effects might create "poison clouds" (e.g., World of Warcraft) or characters might have abilities like "Cloud Kill," where "cloud" is a noun referring to a gas-like effect.
Social Media: Users might post about their day: "Feeling a bit under a cloud today, but hoping for sunshine tomorrow!" (X/Twitter post). Here, "cloud" is a metaphorical noun for a feeling of sadness or gloom.
Television Series: In a crime drama, a character might say, "The evidence is still a bit cloudy, we need more information." (Dialogue from a fictional show). "Cloudy" here is an adjective meaning unclear or uncertain.
General Public Discourse:
"There's a real cloud of doom hanging over the team after that loss." (Sports fan discussing a game). "Cloud" is a metaphorical noun for a pervasive negative atmosphere.
"I prefer to store all my photos in the cloud now; it's so much more convenient than external hard drives." (Everyday conversation about technology). "Cloud" is a noun referring to cloud storage.
"The sky is starting to cloud over, looks like rain later." (Casual observation about the weather). "Cloud" is a verb indicating the sky becoming covered with clouds.
"Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment when making important decisions." (Advice given in a personal conversation). "Cloud" is a verb meaning to obscure or impair.
10 Famous Quotes Using Cloud
"I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o'er vales and hills," (William Wordsworth, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud).
"Every cloud has a silver lining." (Common proverb, popularized in various literary works, e.g., John Milton's Comus).
"No cloud can long hide the sun." (Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Poems of Power).
"Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky." (Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 4: 1944-1947).
"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security." (While not directly using "cloud," Albert Einstein's sentiment of a "delusion of consciousness" can be seen as a metaphorical "clouding" of perception, as paraphrased from a letter, 1950, often cited as "Our task must be to widen our circle of compassion...").
"If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." (Dolly Parton, speaking to the idea that difficulties – "rain" or "clouds" – precede rewards).
"Life is a cloud passing by." (Often attributed to Buddhist teachings or proverbs, emphasizing transience).
"My mind was like a cloud, full of disconnected thoughts." (Original quote, demonstrating a common metaphorical use of "cloud" for mental confusion).
"The way you make me feel is like a summer cloud, light and free." (Original quote, demonstrating a positive metaphorical use).
"Under the cloud of his despair, he could not see the path forward." (Original quote, using "cloud" metaphorically for a state of mind).
Etymology
The word "cloud" has a surprisingly grounded and ancient origin!
Originally, in Old English (before 1150 AD), the word was "clud," and it meant "a mass of rock," "a hill," or "a boulder." Think of it like our modern word "clod" (a lump of earth or dirt) – they are related.
So, the very first meaning of "cloud" was something solid, heavy, and earthy.
Around 1300 AD in Middle English, people started using "cloud" to describe the misty, visible masses in the sky. This was a metaphorical extension of the original meaning. They likely noticed that big, puffy cumulus clouds looked like large, rounded rock masses or hills floating in the sky. It was as if the "clumps" or "lumps" of rock had somehow been lifted up into the air.
Interestingly, Old English actually had a different word for what we now call a cloud: "weolcan" (which is related to our modern, though now poetic, word "welkin," meaning the sky or heavens). But "clud" eventually took over and replaced "weolcan" for the atmospheric phenomenon.
So, in essence, "cloud" went from meaning a solid "lump of rock" to a "lump of vapor" in the sky, based on a visual resemblance.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cloud
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cloud":
Under a cloud: In a state of disgrace, suspicion, or gloom.
Every cloud has a silver lining: Every difficult or unpleasant situation has some hidden benefit or positive aspect.
To be on cloud nine: To be extremely happy or ecstatic.
To cloud one's judgment: To make someone's ability to make sensible decisions difficult or impossible.
To have one's head in the clouds: To be impractical, unrealistic, or day-dreaming.
To disappear into the clouds: To vanish suddenly and completely.
To blow a cloud: (Lesser-known/older, often refers to blowing smoke).
A cloud of suspicion: A pervasive sense of doubt or distrust surrounding someone or something.
To be like a cloud passing by: (Original/lesser-known) To be temporary and transient.
To rise above the clouds: (Metaphorical) To overcome difficulties or limitations.
A cloud of witnesses: A large group of people observing something (from biblical reference).
To be caught in a fog of confusion: (Synonym for similar effect) To be completely bewildered.
To emerge from the mist: (Synonym for similar effect) To become clear or visible after being obscured.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cloud from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
