cloud

cloud1 [ klaud ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount a white or gray mass of very small drops of water in the sky:

A few white clouds drifted across the sky.

There's more cloud than yesterday.

2. ) count a large amount of smoke, dust, steam, etc. in the air:

a dust cloud

cloud of: a huge cloud of black smoke

a ) any large mass in the sky that looks like a cloud:

A thick cloud of flies buzzed around us.

3. ) count something unpleasant that spoils an activity, event, or situation:

a cloud of anxiety/misery/uncertainty

be/cast a cloud over something: Violent protests cast a cloud over the president's visit.

a cloud on the horizon (=something that is likely to spoil a situation): The only cloud on the horizon is the possibility of a hostile takeover.

every cloud has a silver lining

used for saying that something good usually comes out of a bad situation

on cloud nine INFORMAL OLD-FASHIONED

extremely happy

under a cloud

with your reputation damaged because you may have done something wrong

cloud

cloud 2 [ klaud ] verb *

▸ 1 become darker

▸ 2 stop being transparent

▸ 3 make someone confused

▸ 4 make something more confusing

▸ 5 spoil activity/event

▸ 6 (make) look unhappy etc.

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) cloud or cloud over intransitive to become darker because gray clouds are forming in the sky

2. ) intransitive or transitive if something transparent or shiny clouds, or something clouds it, it becomes difficult to see through or into:

Steam clouded the mirror.

a ) if something clouds a clear liquid, or it clouds, it becomes no longer clear:

The solution clouds if you shake it.

3. ) transitive to affect your thinking in a way that makes you likely to make a bad decision or forget something:

cloud someone's judgment: Make sure that personal motivation is not clouding your judgment.

4. ) transitive to make something more complicated or confusing:

cloud the issue: Unanswered questions have further clouded the issue.

5. ) transitive to spoil an activity, event, or situation:

Her political future was clouded by allegations of misconduct.

6. ) intransitive or transitive if an emotion clouds your eyes, your eyes show the emotion

,cloud `over phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) same as CLOUD 2 1:

It's beginning to cloud over we should go back now.

2. ) if your face or eyes cloud over, they show a negative emotion:

Her face clouded over in confusion at his curt tone.