# cloud

/ˈkɫaʊd/ (US) · /klˈaʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cloud
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. in the sky

noun · CEFR A2

a white or grey mass of water drops floating in the sky.

For teachers: a visible mass of condensed water vapour or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

- The sun disappeared behind a thick dark cloud just before the rain started.
- Wispy cirrus clouds streaked the upper atmosphere, indicating a change in weather patterns as the cold front approached from the north.

### 2. computing

noun · CEFR B1

a way to store and use information on the internet instead of on your own computer.

For teachers: a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data.

- I save all my photos to the cloud so I can see them on my phone.
- The enterprise migrated its entire database to the cloud to ensure seamless accessibility for its global workforce.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article: 'the cloud'.

### 3. a mass of something

noun · CEFR B1

a large amount of dust, smoke, or insects moving together through the air.

For teachers: a large, moving mass of particles or organisms suspended in the air.

- A cloud of dust rose from the road as the truck drove past.
- The explosion sent a massive cloud of ash into the stratosphere, disrupting air travel across the continent for several days.

### 4. something negative

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling or situation that makes you feel sad or worried.

For teachers: a state or cause of gloom, suspicion, or trouble hanging over a person or situation.

- The news of the factory closing cast a cloud over the whole town.
- The scandal cast a persistent cloud over his political career, making it difficult for him to regain the public's trust.

### 5. to make unclear

verb · CEFR B2

to make something difficult to see through or difficult to understand.

For teachers: to make something obscure, confused, or less clear.

- Don't let your anger cloud your judgment when you make this decision.
- The witness's testimony served only to cloud the issue further, introducing several contradictions that the jury found difficult to reconcile.

### 6. to become misty

verb · CEFR B1

to become covered with steam or mist so you cannot see through it.

For teachers: to become opaque or obscured by moisture or a film.

- The bathroom mirror started to cloud over while I was taking a hot shower.
- His glasses clouded up immediately as he stepped from the freezing winter air into the humid greenhouse.

Usage: Often used with 'over' or 'up'.

## Examples

- I save all my photos in the cloud so I don't lose them.
- The company decided to move its entire database to the cloud to allow employees to work remotely.
- Migrating legacy systems to the cloud requires careful planning to ensure data security and minimise downtime during the transition.

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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.