cumulus
pronunciation
How to pronounce cumulus in British English:
UK [ˈkju:mjələs]
How to pronounce cumulus in American English:
US [ˈkjumjələs]
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- Noun:
- a globular cloud
- a collection of objects laid on top of each other
Word Origin
- cumulus (n.)
- 1650s, "a heap," from Latin cumulus "a heap, pile, mass, surplus," from PIE *ku-m-olo-, suffixed shortened form of root *keue- "to swell" (compare Sanskrit svayati "swells up, is strong," Greek kyein "to swell," Lithuanian šaunas "firm, solid, fit, capable"). Meteorological use for "rounded mass of clouds" first attested 1803.
Example
- 1. Small white cumulus clouds obscure some parts of the island .
- 2. These clouds are cumulus clouds that are usually formed in lower altitude .
- 3. A band of cumulus lingered over the great hall of the people .
- 4. Chuang says pileus clouds look similar to the smooth caps sometimes seen on top of cumulus clouds , which are actually ice caps .
- 5. This makes the clouds puff downward instead of up like cumulus clouds , and they end up being like upside-down bubbles .