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Definition of cloudcap
cloudcap
/ˈklaʊd.kæp/
cloud · cap
Plural:cloudcaps
•Adjective:cloud-capped
cloudcap Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A distinctive, stationary, cap-like cloud that forms and rests directly over or upon the peak of a mountain.
Example
"Mount Rainier is famous for the striking lenticular cloudcap that often obscures its snowy summit before a Pacific storm."
2
The dense, uppermost layer or covering of a large cumulonimbus cloud formation, typically spreading out as it hits the stratosphere.
Example
"As the afternoon thunderstorm intensified, the pilot noticed the massive cloudcap reaching an altitude of forty thousand feet."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for cloudcap• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'cloud' and 'cap', first recorded in English to describe stationary lenticular clouds that form a hood over prominent mountain peaks.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cloudcap. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cloudcap