clouded

US: (klou′did)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cloud•ed  (klou′did), adj. 

1. confused;
   muddled;
   disordered:
   a mind clouded by sorrow.
2. covered with or as if with clouds.

• cloud + -ed² 1590–1600

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cloud /klaʊd/   n. [countable]

1. Meteorology a white or gray mass of particles of water or ice in the air:
   The clouds blocked the sun.
2. any similar mass, esp. of smoke or dust:
   clouds of smoke.
3. a great number of insects, etc., flying in a group that resembles such a mass.
4. anything that causes fear, suspicion, etc.:
   Everyone could see the clouds of war beginning to gather.

v. 

5. to cover with or as if with clouds: [~ + object]
   Steam had clouded the mirror.
   [no object]
   The mirror clouded with steam.
6. to make sad or gloomy:
   [~ + object] The death of her father clouded the publication of her book.
7. [~ + object] to confuse;
   make hard to understand:
   Don't try to cloud the issue with unnecessary details.
8. to reveal distress, anxiety, etc., in (a part of one's face): [~ + object]
   Worry clouded his brow.
   [no object* ~ (+ over)]
   Her brow clouded (over) with anger.

Idioms

9. Idioms have one's head in the clouds:
   • to be lost in thought;
     be daydreaming.
   • to be impractical.
10. Idioms, Informal Terms on a cloud or on cloud nine, [be + ~] very happy;
    in high spirits:
    I was on cloud nine when she said she would marry me.
11. Idioms under a cloud, in disgrace;
    under suspicion:
    He's still under a cloud from his earlier conviction for robbery.

cloud•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cloud  (kloud), n. 

1. Meteorology a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation above the earth's surface.
2. any similar mass, esp. of smoke or dust.
3. a dim or obscure area in something otherwise clear or transparent.
4. a patch or spot differing in color from the surrounding surface.
5. anything that obscures or darkens something, or causes gloom, trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.
6. a great number of insects, birds, etc., flying together:
   a cloud of locusts obscuring the sun.
7. Idioms in the clouds:
   • in a condition of absent-mindedness;
     lost in reverie.
   • impractical:
     Their schemes are usually up in the clouds.
8. on a cloud, [Informal.] exceedingly happy;
   in high spirits:
   On the night of the prom the seniors were on a cloud.
9. Idioms under a cloud, in disgrace;
   under suspicion:
   After going bankrupt he left town under a cloud.

v.t. 

10. to overspread or cover with, or as with, a cloud or clouds:
    The smoke from the fire clouded the sun from view.
11. to overshadow;
    obscure;
    darken:
    The hardships of war cloud his childhood memories.
12. to make gloomy.
13. (of distress, anxiety, etc.) to reveal itself in (a part of one's face):
    Worry clouded his brow.
14. to make obscure or indistinct;
    confuse:
    Don't cloud the issue with unnecessary details.
15. to place under suspicion, disgrace, etc.
16. to variegate with patches of another color.

v.i. 

17. to grow cloudy;
    become clouded.
18. (of a part of one's face) to reveal one's distress, anxiety, etc.:
    His brow clouded with anger.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English clūd rock, hill; probably akin to clod

cloud′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. vapor.
• 6. swarm, horde, multitude, throng, host, crowd, army.
• 7. Cloud, fog, haze, mist differ somewhat in their figurative uses.
  Cloud connotes esp. daydreaming:
  His mind is in the clouds.
  Fog and haze connote esp. bewilderment or confusion:
  to go around in a fog
  (haze).
  Mist has an emotional connotation and suggests tears:
  a mist in one's eyes.
• 14. muddle, distort.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cloud / klaʊd/ noun

1. a mass of water or ice particles visible in the sky, usually white or grey, from which rain or snow falls when the particles coagulate
   See also cirrus, cumulonimbus, cumulus, stratus
2. any collection of particles visible in the air, esp of smoke or dust
3. something that darkens, threatens, or carries gloom
4. a cloudlike blemish in a transparent stone
5. the cloud ⇒ the network of remote servers used in cloud computing
6. (modifier) of or relating to cloud computing: a cloud application
7. in the clouds ⇒ not in contact with reality
8. on cloud nine ⇒ elated; very happy
9. under a cloud ⇒ under reproach or suspicion
10. in a state of gloom or bad temper

verb

1. when intr, often followed by over or up: to make or become cloudy, overcast, or indistinct
2. (transitive) to make obscure; darken
3. to make or become gloomy or depressed
4. (transitive) to place under or render liable to suspicion or disgrace
5. to render (liquids) milky or dull or (of liquids) to become milky or dull

Etymology: 13th Century (in the sense: a mass of vapour): from Old English clūd rock, hill; probably related to clod

ˈcloudless adjective

ˈcloudlessly adverb

ˈcloudlessness noun