noun | verb
cloudcloud1 /klaʊd/ ●●● S3 W2 noun 1
IN THE SKY [countable, uncountable] a white or gray mass in the sky that consists of very small drops of water: Look at those dark clouds – I think it’s going to rain.behind a cloud The moon disappeared behind a cloud. The clouds were moving swiftly across the sky. The sun was beginning to break through the clouds (=the sun was beginning to appear). → see also storm cloud (1), thundercloud2IN THE AIR [countable] a mass of something in the air, or a large number of things moving together in the air: cloud of Clouds of mosquitoes were buzzing around us.a cloud of dust/smoke/gas etc. A cloud of steam rose into the air.3PROBLEM [countable] a situation that causes problems and makes you feel afraid, unhappy, or worried: cloud of There is a cloud of uncertainty over the president’s health. Budget problems mean there are clouds on the horizon (=problems that are likely to happen). Several players are injured, and this has cast a cloud over the rest of the season (=it has caused problems for the rest of the season).4under a cloud (of something) informal if someone is under a cloud, people have a bad opinion of him or her because he or she did something wrong: Rylan resigned under a cloud of suspicion.5be on cloud nine informal to be very happy about something6every cloud has a silver lining used to say that there is something good even in a situation that seems very sad or difficult[Origin: Old English clud rock, hill; because some clouds look like rocks] → see also have your head in the clouds at head1 (32)COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 1adjectives/nouns + clouda dark/gray/black cloud Dark clouds usually mean rain.a white cloud There was a bright blue sky with a few white clouds.heavy/thick clouds By midday, thick clouds had spread across the sky.low/high clouds In the distance low clouds had formed.storm/rain clouds Later that evening, the storm clouds moved in.a threatening cloud (=looking as if it will produce rain) By ten o’clock the threatening clouds had vanished, and the town was bathed in sunlight.verbsclouds form/gather The sky had darkened and rain clouds were forming overhead.clouds move We watched the clouds move across the moon.clouds drift/float (=move slowly) A few clouds drifted across the top of the mountains.clouds clear/lift (=disappear) At last the rain had stopped and the clouds had cleared.clouds break/break up (=scatter or disappear) The clouds were breaking up, and the sun was coming out.clouds roll in (=begin to cover an area of the sky) By evening, storm clouds had rolled in.clouds hang above/over a place Heavy gray clouds hung over the town.clouds cover/hide something (also clouds obscure something formal) The moon was now hidden by clouds.clouds race/scud (=move quickly) A strong wind was blowing and the clouds were scudding across the sky.cloud + nounscloud cover (=cloud across the whole sky) The cloud cover should disappear by the afternoon.a cloud formation formal (=a shape in which a cloud forms) There are many different types of cloud formation.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2adjectives/nouns + clouda great/big/huge/vast cloud of something Where the bomb had landed, there was a great cloud of dust.a thick/dense cloud of something These volcanic eruptions throw up dense clouds of ash.a dust/ash/smoke etc. cloud The dust cloud from the landslide was so big that it was like driving through fog, but fog made of rock particles.a billowing cloud (=rising in round masses) Another piece of the wall collapsed, sending up a billowing cloud of dust.a swirling cloud (=moving around and around) A swirling cloud of smoke hid everything.verbsa cloud rises When I turned over, a big cloud of dust rose from the mattress.a cloud surrounds/envelops somebody/something The cloud of smoke enveloped the firemen. noun | verb
cloudcloud2 verb 1THOUGHTS/MEMORIES [transitive] to make someone less able to think clearly or remember things: Alcohol had clouded his judgment. Doubt clouded my mind.2SPOIL something [transitive] to make something less pleasant or more difficult than it should have been: The team’s victory was clouded by the tragedy in their hometown.3cloud the issue/picture to make something difficult to understand, especially by introducing ideas or information that are not related to it: The Supreme Court’s latest decision has only clouded the issue.4FACE (also cloud over) [intransitive, transitive] literary if someone’s expression clouds or if something clouds it, he or she starts to look angry or sad: cloud with something His face clouded with anger when he saw her.5GLASS/LIQUID (also cloud over/up) [transitive] if something clouds a transparent material such as glass or a liquid, it makes the material more difficult to see through: The display cases were clouded with dust.6COVER WITH CLOUDS [transitive] to cover something with clouds: Thick mist clouded the mountaintops.cloud over phrasal verb1if the sky clouds over, it becomes dark and full of clouds2if someone’s expression clouds over, they start to look angry or sad: Anne’s face clouded over as she remembered.cloud up phrasal verb1 if a transparent material such as glass or a liquid clouds up or if something clouds it up, it becomes less clear and more difficult to see through2 if the sky clouds up, it becomes dark and full of clouds