cloud

cloud¹ W3S3 [klaud] n

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1¦(in the sky)¦

2¦(in the air)¦

3¦(problem)¦

4 under a cloud (of suspicion)

5 be on cloud nine

6 every cloud has a silver lining

7 be/live in cloud-cuckoo-land

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[: Old English; Origin: clud 'rock, hill'; because some clouds look like rocks]

1.) ¦(IN THE SKY)¦ [U and C]

a white or grey mass in the sky that forms from very small drops of water

heavy/thick/dense etc clouds

▪ Dark clouds floated across the moon.

▪ Heavy clouds had gathered over the summit of Mont Blanc.

low/high cloud

▪ Visibility was bad due to low cloud.

→↑storm cloud, ↑thundercloud

2.) ¦(IN THE AIR)¦

a mass of dust, smoke etc in the air, or a large number of insects flying together

cloud of dust/smoke/gas etc

▪ A cloud of steam rose into the air

▪ clouds of mosquitoes buzzing around us

3.) ¦(PROBLEM)¦

something that makes you feel afraid, worried. unhappy etc

cloud of

▪ the cloud of economic recession

cloud on the horizon

(=something that might spoil a happy situation)

▪ The only cloud on the horizon was her mother's illness.

▪ Fears of renewed terrorist attacks cast a cloud over the event (=spoilt the happy situation) .

▪ He returned to New York under a cloud of gloom and despair.

4.) under a cloud (of suspicion) informal if someone is under a cloud, people have a bad opinion of them because they think they have done something wrong

▪ He left the company under a cloud of suspicion.

5.) be on cloud nine informal

to be very happy about something

6.) every cloud has a silver lining

used to say that there is something good even in a situation that seems very sad or difficult

7.) be/live in cloud-cuckoo-land

BrE to think that a situation is much better than it really is, in a way that is slightly stupid

→have your head in the clouds at ↑head¹ (24)

cloud ²

cloud² v

1.) [T]

to make someone less able to think clearly or make sensible decisions

cloud sb's judgement/mind/vision etc

▪ Don't let your personal feelings cloud your judgement.

▪ Fear had clouded his vision.

2.) also cloud over [I and T]

if someone's face or eyes cloud, or if something clouds them, they start to look angry, sad, or worried

▪ Ann's eyes clouded with the pain.

▪ Then suspicion clouded his face.

3.) [T usually passive]

to make something less pleasant or more difficult than it should have been

▪ Her happiness was clouded by having to leave her son behind.

4.) cloud the issue/picture etc

to make a subject or problem more difficult to understand or deal with, especially by introducing unnecessary ideas

▪ Totally uninformed judgements only cloud the issue.

5.) also cloud up [I and T]

if glass or a liquid clouds, or if something clouds it, it becomes less clear and more difficult to see through

▪ Our windows were clouded up with steam.

▪ The water clouded and I could no longer see the river bed.

6.) [T]

to cover something with clouds

▪ Thick mist clouded the mountaintops.

cloud over phr v

1.) also cloud up AmE

if the sky clouds over, it becomes dark and full of black clouds

2.) if someone's face or eyes cloud over, they start to look angry or sad

▪ His face clouded over in disappointment.