Altocumuli

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of cloud characterized by white or gray layers, typically appearing at a high altitude and often indicating fair weather or the approach of a storm
2. These clouds resemble rounded masses and can cover the sky, forming at mid to upper levels, often indicating changes in weather conditions
3. Referring to a specific form of cloud that appears as soft, fluffy patches in the sky, typically associated with pleasant atmospheric conditions

Etymology: Altocumuli is the plural of "altocumulus", a cloud type whose name is a straightforward compound of two Latin words. "Cumulus" means "heap" or "pile", and it gives English the familiar puffy cloud, while "alto-" comes from the Latin "altus", meaning "high". Put together, the name describes a heap of cloud sitting at a higher level than ordinary cumulus. The prefix does most of the work in distinguishing the cloud. Cumulus clouds form low in the sky, so the pile-of-cloud idea is kept and the height is added. The result is a rounded, layered cloud that forms at middle altitudes and can spread across much of the sky, which is why its name simply records where it sits relative to its lower cousin.

Synonyms: clouds, INVALID