shroud

UK: /ˈʃraʊd/ US: /ʃraʊd/ ,(shroud)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

shroud /ʃraʊd/   n. [countable]

1. a sheet in which a dead body is wrapped for burial.
2. something that covers, hides, or protects:
   a shroud of darkness.
3. Naval Terms any of the ropes or wires attached to the head of a ship's mast to keep it from swaying.

v. [~ + object]

4. to wrap or clothe (a body) for burial.
5. to cover;
   hide from view:
   shrouded by night.
6. to hide or keep (knowledge, etc.):
   secrets shrouded in mystery.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

shroud  (shroud), n. 

1. a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.
2. something that covers or conceals like a garment:
   a shroud of rain.
3. Nautical, Naval Terms any of a number of taut ropes or wires converging from both sides on the head of a lower or upper mast of the outer end of a bowsprit to steady it against lateral sway: a part of the standing rigging.
4. Aeronautics Also called shroud′ line′. any of a number of suspension cords of a parachute attaching the load to the canopy.
5. Also called shroud′ing. [Mach.]
   • Mechanical Engineering (on a nonmetallic gear) an extended metal rim enclosing the ends of the teeth on either side.
   • Mechanical Engineering (on a water wheel) one of two rings of boards or plates enclosing the buckets at their ends.
6. Rocketry a cone-shaped shield that protects the payload of a launch vehicle.

v.t. 

7. to wrap or clothe for burial;
   enshroud.
8. to cover;
   hide from view.
9. to veil, as in obscurity or mystery:
   They shrouded their past lives in an effort to forget.
10. Mechanical Engineering to provide (a water wheel) with a shroud.
11. [Obs.] to shelter.

v.i. 

12. [Archaic.] to take shelter.

• bef. 1000; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English scrūd; cognate with Old Norse skrūth; akin to shred; (verb, verbal) Middle English shrouden, derivative of the noun, nominal; replacing Middle English shriden, Old English scrȳdan, derivative of scrūd

shroud′less, adj. 
shroud′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. winding sheet.
• 8. conceal, screen.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

shroud / ʃraʊd/ noun

1. a garment or piece of cloth used to wrap a dead body
2. anything that envelops like a garment: a shroud of mist
3. a protective covering for a piece of equipment
4. a streamlined protective covering used to protect the payload during a rocket-powered launch
5. one of a pattern of ropes or cables used to stay a mast

verb

1. (transitive) to wrap in a shroud
2. (transitive) to cover, envelop, or hide

Etymology: Old English scrūd garment; related to Old Norse skrūth gear

ˈshroudless adjective