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REFERENCE

cloak

n. · v.
US //ˈkɫoʊk// UK //klˈəʊk// cloak
  1. 1 clothing (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a long, loose piece of clothing without sleeves that you wear over your shoulders.

    a sleeveless outer garment that hangs loosely from the shoulders, often associated with historical or fantasy dress.

    Example

    The mysterious stranger wore a heavy black cloak to stay warm in the wind.

    Example

    The protagonist pulled her velvet cloak tightly around her shoulders as she stepped out into the freezing night air of the Victorian streets.
  2. 2 a disguise or cover (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    something that hides or covers the truth about a situation.

    a metaphorical cover or pretext used to conceal the true nature of an activity or identity.

    Example

    They operated under a cloak of secrecy to keep the plan hidden from the public.

    Example

    The negotiations were conducted under a cloak of diplomatic immunity, ensuring that no details reached the press until a final agreement was signed.
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  1. 3 internet anonymity (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    a fake name or address used online to hide a person's real identity.

    a text replacement for a user's hostname or IP address, typically on IRC networks, to provide anonymity.

    Example

    The chat moderator applied a cloak to the user's account to protect their privacy.

    Example

    By using a virtual cloak, the developer was able to participate in the public channel without revealing the company's internal server address.
  2. 4 to hide or cover (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to cover something so that it cannot be seen or noticed.

    to envelop or hide something, often used figuratively to describe natural phenomena or intentional secrecy.

    Example

    A thick mist began to cloak the mountains as the sun went down.

    Example

    The intelligence agency attempted to cloak their operations by using several front companies to move equipment across the border.
  3. 5 to make invisible (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    to make a person or a ship invisible using special technology, usually in stories.

    to render an object invisible through advanced or speculative technology; frequently used in science fiction contexts.

    Example

    In the movie, the spaceship can cloak itself so the enemies cannot find it.

    Example

    The stealth fighter was designed with materials intended to cloak the aircraft from enemy radar detection during night missions.

    Usage

    often used in the passive voice or as a participle
Origin

From Middle English cloke, from Old Northern French cloque (“travelling cloak”), from Medieval Latin clocca (“travelers' cape, literally “a bell”, so called from the garment’s bell-like shape”), of Celtic origin, from Proto-Celtic *klokkos, ultimately imitative. Doublet of cloche and clock.

Word family

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