cloud computing
compound.compound. using a network of remote servers on the internet to store and manage data instead of using your own local computer.
compound. the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
Cloud computing allows us to access our files from any device.
By switching to cloud computing, the startup avoided the high costs of buying and maintaining their own physical servers.
The rapid adoption of cloud computing has enabled global teams to collaborate on massive datasets in real time, significantly reducing the latency associated with traditional hardware-based workflows.
Compound of cloud and computing. The term derives from the established practice in network engineering of using a cloud symbol to represent the internet or a complex network in technical diagrams.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically functions as an uncountable noun phrase; often used as a modifier before other nouns like 'services' or 'infrastructure'.
Last updated July 22, 2026