cloud
/klaʊd/ (bre, ipa) · /klaʊd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈklau̇d/ (ame, mw)
cloud — noun
- cloudsingular
- cloudsplural
1. a white or grey patch in the sky that appears when tiny water particles gather a
a white or grey patch in the sky that appears when tiny water particles gather and become visible
Theo looked up and saw white clouds floating across the bright blue sky.
countable: a cloud / white clouds
Dark clouds covered the sun, and soon it began to rain.
A single cloud drifted slowly over the mountain top.
On a clear day, you can see clouds shaped like animals above the green hills.
用法筆記
countable when referring to one or more individual clouds; uncountable when referring to cloud cover in general ('There is too much cloud in the sky for stargazing').
2. a visible mass of dust, smoke, steam, or tiny particles floating in the air
a visible mass of dust, smoke, steam, or tiny particles floating in the air
A thick cloud of dust rose from the dirt road as the truck drove past.
cloud of + [substance]: cloud of dust
Clouds of white steam poured out of the kettle in the kitchen.
When Ravi opened the old wooden chest, a cloud of yellow smoke filled the air.
Clouds of flour flew across the kitchen as Mei kneaded the bread dough.
- mass
less specific — a mass can be solid or liquid and does not suggest floating in air
文法句型
cloud of + [substance]
用法筆記
always countable — the pattern 'a cloud of + [substance]' or 'clouds of + [substance]' is the most common use.
3. a system of remote servers on the internet where people save data, run software,
a system of remote servers on the internet where people save data, run software, and access files from anywhere
Yara saved all her photos to the cloud so she could access them from any device.
the cloud (singular, with 'the')
Many companies now use cloud storage instead of keeping files on local computers.
attributive use: cloud storage
The app automatically backs up your contacts to the cloud every night.
Teachers can share course materials with students through the cloud.
用法筆記
almost always used with 'the' ('the cloud'). Frequently used as a modifier before other nouns: cloud storage, cloud computing, cloud service.
4. a cause of sadness, worry, or trouble that affects your mood or situation negati
a cause of sadness, worry, or trouble that affects your mood or situation negatively
A cloud of worry hung over the Watanabe family as they waited for news from the hospital.
a cloud of + [emotion]: a cloud of worry
The bad news cast a dark cloud over the whole celebration.
cast a cloud over [something]
Despite the cloud of sadness, Leila tried to stay cheerful for her friends.
The fear of losing his job was a cloud that followed him everywhere.
- shadow
more general — can refer to any negative influence, not only emotional weight
文法句型
a cloud of + [emotion]
cast a cloud over + [something]
用法筆記
often used figuratively with verbs like 'cast,' 'hang,' 'lift,' or 'clear.' The pattern 'a cloud over + [something]' is very common.
cloud — verb
- cloudpresent simple I / you / we / they
- clouds3rd person singular
- clouding-ing form
- cloudedpast simple
1. to lose transparency so that one can no longer see clearly through something; to
to lose transparency so that one can no longer see clearly through something; to turn a clear material hazy, milky, or opaque
The steam from Yusuf's hot tea clouded the bathroom mirror.
transitive use: steam clouds mirror
As the water in the glass cooled, it began to cloud and turn white.
intransitive use: water clouds
His warm breath clouded the window on the cold winter morning.
The glass of the old window had clouded from years of rain and dust.
- fog
more specific — often used for windows or glasses; 'fog up' is more common in everyday speech
- clear
as in 'the water clears' or 'the sky clears'
文法句型
[substance] clouds
[agent] clouds [object]
用法筆記
the intransitive use ('the water clouds') describes a process the substance undergoes. The transitive use ('steam clouded the mirror') describes what causes the change. Also common in phrasal verb form 'cloud over/up' for the sky.
2. to prevent clear thinking by introducing emotions, bias, or irrelevant informati
to prevent clear thinking by introducing emotions, bias, or irrelevant information that muddles a judgement or issue
Personal feelings should not cloud a judge's decision in court.
cloud + abstract object: cloud a decision
Too many statistics and numbers clouded the main point of the presentation.
Fatigue clouded Hana's thinking during the final exam.
A rush of anger clouded Tomás's ability to listen to his friend's explanation.
- obscure
more formal; can be used for both physical and abstract hiding
- clarify
to make something clear or easier to understand
文法句型
[something] clouds [abstract noun]
用法筆記
the object is usually an abstract noun related to judgment or clarity: cloud one's judgment, cloud the issue, cloud someone's mind, cloud the truth. Nearly always transitive.