any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
"The thick cloud of cigarette smoke from the open window filled up the entire kitchen."
a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude
"The sky was filled with dark, heavy clouds that promised an afternoon storm."
a cause of worry or gloom or trouble
"the only cloud on the horizon was the possibility of dissent by the French"
A rock; boulder; a hill.
"The old shepherd sat atop the cloud, watching his sheep gather at the valley floor below."
In plain English: A cloud is a computer system that stores your files and runs programs online instead of on your own device.
"The dark clouds gathered on the horizon before the storm began."
Usage: In everyday usage, a cloud is a visible mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, not a rock or hill. Use this term to describe weather phenomena like rain clouds rather than geological formations.
To become foggy or gloomy, or obscured from sight.
"The thick morning mist clouded the view of the distant mountains until they seemed to vanish entirely."
In plain English: To cloud something means to make it unclear, hazy, or difficult to see or understand.
"The heavy storm clouds began to cloud our view of the mountain."
Usage: Use "cloud" as a verb to describe something becoming obscured by fog, mist, or gloom, such as when rain clouds the sky or worry clouds someone's face. Avoid using it to mean covering an object with a physical cloud cover unless you are specifically referring to atmospheric conditions.
A surname.
"My neighbor, Mr. Cloud, always greets me with a friendly wave when I walk by his house."
The word cloud comes from Old English clūd, which originally meant a mass of stone or rock. Over time, the meaning shifted to describe a floating mass of water droplets in the sky before traveling into Middle English and modern usage.