# cloak

/ˈkɫoʊk/ (US) · /klˈəʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cloak
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. clothing

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The mysterious stranger wore a heavy black cloak to stay warm in the wind.
- The protagonist pulled her velvet cloak tightly around her shoulders as she stepped out into the freezing night air of the Victorian streets.

### 2. a disguise or cover

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

something that hides or covers the truth about a situation.

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

- They operated under a cloak of secrecy to keep the plan hidden from the public.
- The negotiations were conducted under a cloak of diplomatic immunity, ensuring that no details reached the press until a final agreement was signed.

### 3. internet anonymity

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- The chat moderator applied a cloak to the user's account to protect their privacy.
- By using a virtual cloak, the developer was able to participate in the public channel without revealing the company's internal server address.

### 4. to hide or cover

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- A thick mist began to cloak the mountains as the sun went down.
- The intelligence agency attempted to cloak their operations by using several front companies to move equipment across the border.

### 5. to make invisible

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The mysterious figure wore a long black cloak.
- The spies operated under a cloak of secrecy to ensure their mission remained undetected by the public.
- The thick morning fog acted as a natural cloak, allowing the small vessel to slip past the harbor guards without raising any alarms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.