# shroud

/ˈʃɹaʊd/ (US) · /ʃɹˈaʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shroud
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. burial cloth

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead body before it is buried.

For teachers: a length of cloth or a garment in which a dead person is wrapped for burial; a winding sheet.

- The body was wrapped in a simple white shroud according to tradition.
- Archaeologists discovered fragments of a linen shroud, suggesting the burial rites were performed with significant care and expense.

### 2. a covering that hides

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

something that covers or hides another thing, making it difficult to see or understand.

For teachers: a thing that envelops or obscures something else, often used metaphorically for mystery or darkness.

- A thick shroud of fog covered the valley early in the morning.
- The negotiations were conducted under a shroud of secrecy, with no official statements released to the press for weeks.

### 3. ship rigging

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

strong ropes or cables that support a ship's mast from the sides.

For teachers: a set of ropes or cables forming part of the standing rigging, used to support a mast laterally.

- The sailors checked the shrouds to make sure the mast was secure before the storm.
- During the gale, one of the port-side shrouds snapped, threatening the stability of the entire mainmast.

### 4. to hide or cover

verb · CEFR B2

to cover something so that it cannot be seen or known clearly.

For teachers: to wrap or dress in a shroud; more commonly, to obscure or hide from view.

- Mist started to shroud the mountains as the sun went down.
- The origins of the ancient ruins remain shrouded in mystery, as no written records from that era have survived.

## Examples

- A thick shroud of fog covered the valley.
- The ancient ruins were hidden beneath a heavy shroud of vines and tropical overgrowth for centuries.
- The mountain peak remained invisible behind a persistent shroud of grey mist, frustrating the climbers who had hoped for a clear view of the summit.

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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.