cloud

A white or grey mass of tiny water drops floating in the sky, sometimes bringing rain.

• A cloud covered the sun.
• Dark clouds gathered above the hills.
• Will those clouds bring rain?

Common phrases: dark cloud, rain cloud, cloud cover, white cloud

A large spreading mass of something, such as smoke or dust.

• A cloud of smoke filled the room.
• Clouds of dust rose behind the trucks.
• The kettle released a small cloud of steam.

How to use it: a cloud of something (The car disappeared in a cloud of dust.)

Similar words: mass

Common phrases: cloud of dust, cloud of smoke, cloud of steam

A large group of insects, animals, or people moving closely together.

• A cloud of flies hovered nearby.
• Clouds of locusts swept across the fields.
• A cloud of birds rose from the trees.

How to use it: a cloud of something (A cloud of mosquitoes followed us.)

Similar words: swarm, mass

Common phrases: cloud of insects, cloud of flies, cloud of birds

To make something harder to understand or judge clearly.

• Extra details can cloud the issue.
• Anger clouded his judgment.
• Do these rumours cloud our understanding of what happened?

Similar words: obscure, confuse

Opposites: clarify

Common phrases: cloud the issue, cloud someone's judgment, cloud someone's memory, cloud the debate

To become dark, misty, or difficult to see through.

• The sky began to cloud.
• The windows clouded with moisture.
• It clouded over just before lunch.

How to use it: cloud over (The sky started to cloud over.)

Similar words: darken, mist over

Opposites: clear

Common phrases: cloud over, begin to cloud, cloud with mist

To cover or hide something with clouds or a similar mass.

• Smoke clouded the sky.
• The hilltops were clouded with mist.
• Steam clouded our view of the platform.

How to use it: be clouded with something (The valley was clouded with mist.)

Similar words: cover, obscure, hide

Opposites: reveal

Common phrases: cloud the sky, cloud the view, cloud with smoke