nacreous cloudn.
/ˈneɪkrɪəs ˌklaʊd/, U.S. /ˈneɪkriəs ˌklaʊd/ An iridescent cloud; (spec. in Meteorology) one of a kind occasionally seen in winter in high latitudes, showing bright colours after sunset, and forming in the stratosphere at a height of 12–18 miles (20–30 kilometres); also called mother-of-pearl cloud. Cf. noctilucent adj. 2.
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ice cloud1830
nacreous cloud1909
mother-of-pearl cloud1932
rotor cloud1954
wave cloud1959
1877 Athenæum 3 Nov. 572/2 A youth reclining on a cliff, contemplating a fan-like, nacreous mass of cloud.]
1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Nacreous cloud, a delicate white cloud, very high, shining late at night; a noctiluminous cloud: sometimes improperly called iridescent and phosphorescent.
1927 C. Aiken Blue Voy. iii. 67 The half-opened windows opposite, rising, scooped a rapid green evening sky; then..swooped again, scooping a nacreous cloud touched with flamingo.
1942 W. H. Wenstrom Weather & Ocean of Air i. ii. 31 In a true nacreous cloud, floating ten miles above the troposphere, the play of color extends clear into the cloud center.
1991 Sci. Amer. June 40/2 They glow with a seashell iridescence. Hence they are sometimes called nacreous, or mother-of-pearl, clouds.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1909