cloud cap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / RareLiterary, Descriptive, Technical (Meteorology)
Quick answer
What does “cloud cap” mean?
A cap or hood of cloud covering the peak of a mountain or hill.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cap or hood of cloud covering the peak of a mountain or hill.
In meteorology or descriptive writing, a persistent, often stationary, lenticular cloud formation that sits directly over a mountain summit, resembling a cap or hat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties understand and use the term identically. There is no variation in meaning or spelling.
Connotations
Evocative of scenic landscapes, mountain weather, and natural beauty. In a technical context, it implies a specific orographic cloud type.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US English. Its use is dictated by geography (presence of mountains) and register more than by regional variety.
Grammar
How to Use “cloud cap” in a Sentence
The mountain has/wears a cloud cap.A cloud cap sits/rests on the summit.A cloud cap formed over the peak.The cloud cap finally lifted/broke.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cloud cap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The peak began to cloud-cap itself by mid-morning.
- The Munros often cloud-cap in unsettled weather.
American English
- The summit is cloud-capping today, signalling a change in pressure.
- Mount Rainier cloud-capped as the front moved in.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely unlikely. Only in highly metaphorical contexts (e.g., 'a cloud cap of uncertainty over the merger').
Academic
Used in geography, meteorology, and environmental science papers describing mountain weather phenomena.
Everyday
Very rare. Used descriptively by hikers, photographers, or in travel writing about mountainous regions.
Technical
Used in meteorology, specifically in mountain meteorology or aviation weather reports, to describe a type of stationary orographic cloud.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cloud cap”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cloud cap”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloud cap”
- Using 'cloudcap' as one word (it is typically two words).
- Confusing it with general fog or low cloud.
- Using it to describe a cloud covering a valley or low area.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as two separate words: 'cloud cap'.
A cloud cap specifically sits on a mountain summit, often while lower slopes are clear. Fog is a more general term for a cloud at ground level, often covering valleys and flat areas.
It can be used creatively or descriptively as a verb (e.g., 'The mountain cloud-capped'), but this is non-standard and poetic. The standard adjective is 'cloud-capped'.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term. It is useful for advanced learners interested in geography, meteorology, or descriptive nature writing, but not essential for general communication.
A cap or hood of cloud covering the peak of a mountain or hill.
Cloud cap is usually literary, descriptive, technical (meteorology) in register.
Cloud cap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklaʊd ˌkæp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklaʊd ˌkæp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To wear a cap of cloud (metaphorical).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a mountain putting on a fluffy white HAT made of CLOUD to keep its peak warm.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS A BEING (The mountain wears a cap); CLOUDS ARE CLOTHING/GARMENTS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'cloud cap' MOST appropriately used?