Cumulus

Cumulus
Cloud Cloud (kloud), n. [Prob. fr. AS. cl[=u]d a rock or hillock, the application arising from the frequent resemblance of clouds to rocks or hillocks in the sky or air.] 1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles, suspended in the upper atmosphere. [1913 Webster]

I do set my bow in the cloud. --Gen. ix. 13. [1913 Webster]

Note: A classification of clouds according to their chief forms was first proposed by the meteorologist Howard, and this is still substantially employed. The following varieties and subvarieties are recognized: (a) {Cirrus}. This is the most elevated of all the forms of clouds; is thin, long-drawn, sometimes looking like carded wool or hair, sometimes like a brush or room, sometimes in curl-like or fleecelike patches. It is the cat's-tail of the sailor, and the mare's-tail of the landsman. (b) {Cumulus}. This form appears in large masses of a hemispherical form, or nearly so, above, but flat below, one often piled above another, forming great clouds, common in the summer, and presenting the appearance of gigantic mountains crowned with snow. It often affords rain and thunder gusts. (c) {Stratus}. This form appears in layers or bands extending horizontally. (d) {Nimbus}. This form is characterized by its uniform gray tint and ragged edges; it covers the sky in seasons of continued rain, as in easterly storms, and is the proper rain cloud. The name is sometimes used to denote a raining cumulus, or cumulostratus. (e) {Cirro-cumulus}. This form consists, like the cirrus, of thin, broken, fleecelice clouds, but the parts are more or less rounded and regulary grouped. It is popularly called mackerel sky. (f) {Cirro-stratus}. In this form the patches of cirrus coalesce in long strata, between cirrus and stratus. (g) {Cumulo-stratus}. A form between cumulus and stratus, often assuming at the horizon a black or bluish tint. -- {Fog}, cloud, motionless, or nearly so, lying near or in contact with the earth's surface. -- {Storm scud}, cloud lying quite low, without form, and driven rapidly with the wind. [1913 Webster]

2. A mass or volume of smoke, or flying dust, resembling vapor. ``A thick cloud of incense.'' --Ezek. viii. 11. [1913 Webster]

3. A dark vein or spot on a lighter material, as in marble; hence, a blemish or defect; as, a cloud upon one's reputation; a cloud on a title. [1913 Webster]

4. That which has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect; that which temporarily overshadows, obscures, or depresses; as, a cloud of sorrow; a cloud of war; a cloud upon the intellect. [1913 Webster]

5. A great crowd or multitude; a vast collection. ``So great a cloud of witnesses.'' --Heb. xii. 1. [1913 Webster]

6. A large, loosely-knitted scarf, worn by women about the head. [1913 Webster]

{Cloud on a} (or the) {title} (Law), a defect of title, usually superficial and capable of removal by release, decision in equity, or legislation.

{To be under a cloud}, to be under suspicion or in disgrace; to be in disfavor.

{In the clouds}, in the realm of facy and imagination; beyond reason; visionary. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • cumulus — [ kymylys ] n. m. • 1830; mot lat. « amas » 1 ♦ Météorol. Gros nuage clair à base horizontale plate et à sommet présentant des protubérances arrondies. Les cumulus sont des nuages de beau temps. 2 ♦ Chauffe eau électrique en forme de gros… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Cúmulus — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Cumulus Nubes cumulus Altitud: por debajo de 2 km ¿Nube de precipitation? …   Wikipedia Español

  • cumulus — CÚMULUS s.m. Formaţie de nori groşi, albicioşi, cu aspect de grămezi izolate, al căror contur se modifică neîncetat şi care apar la înălţimi de peste 1000 m, semnalând timp frumos. – Din fr., lat. cumulus. Trimis de IoanSoleriu, 01.08.2004. Sursa …   Dicționar Român

  • Cumulus — may refer to:*Cumulus cloud, a type of cloud *Cumulus Media, a radio broadcasting company *Cumulus (software), digital asset management software developed by Canto Software * Cumulus (synthesizer), GPL software synthesizer using grain synthesis …   Wikipedia

  • CUMULUS — apud Solinum, c. 32. in τροεκδόσει, de Nilo exundante, Emissis omnibus cumulis totam fluctuationem erumpere, idem quod tumulus, agger, moles, Graece χῶμα: cuiusmodi aggeres in Nilo ad emittendas aquas aut avertendas neri consuevisse, diximus… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • cumulus — (n.) 1650s, a heap, from L. cumulus a heap, pile, mass, surplus, from PIE *ku m olo , suffixed shortened form of root *keue to swell (Cf. Skt. svayati swells up, is strong, Gk. kyein to swell, Lith. ЕЎaunas firm, solid, fit, capable ).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Cumulus — Cu mu*lus (k[=u] m[ u]*l[u^]s), n.; pl. {Cumuli} ( l[imac]). [L., a heap. See {Cumber}.] (Meteor.) One of the four principal forms of clouds. See{Cloud}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cumŭlus — (lat.), Haufen, bes. Haufwolke; Cumulostratus, die gethürmte Haufenwolke, s. Wolken …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Cumŭlus — (lat.), der Hause; die Haufenwolke, s. Wolken …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • cumulus — ► NOUN (pl. cumuli) ▪ cloud forming rounded masses heaped on each other above a flat base at fairly low altitude. ORIGIN Latin, heap …   English terms dictionary

  • cumulus — [kyo͞o′myə ləs] n. pl. cumuli [kyo͞o myo͞olī΄, kyo͞o′myəlī΄] [L, a heap < IE * k̑u melos, a swelling, increase < base * k̑eu , a swelling > CAVE] 1. a heap; mass; pile 2. the type of bright, billowy cloud with a dark, flat base, that… …   English World dictionary

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