cloud computing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “cloud computing” mean?
The delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet ('the cloud') to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet ('the cloud') to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.
A paradigm for enabling ubiquitous, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is universal and semantically identical. Spelling differences follow standard UK/US conventions ('cloud' remains the same). British English may hyphenate more often ('cloud-computing') informally, but the compound noun is standard.
Connotations
Slightly stronger corporate/enterprise association in British English; slightly more associated with startup culture and consumer services in American English.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in technical and business contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “cloud computing” in a Sentence
[Company/We] + verb (adopted/uses) + cloud computing + for [purpose/application].cloud computing + [enables/provides/offers] + [benefit].[Adjective] + cloud computing + [platform/service/model]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cloud computing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The IT team is currently cloud-computing their entire legacy system.
- We need to cloud-compute the data analysis for better scalability.
American English
- The startup plans to cloud-compute their app from day one.
- They successfully cloud-computed their backup solution.
adverb
British English
- The data is stored cloud-computingly for easy access.
- They operate entirely cloud-computingly.
American English
- The service runs cloud-computingly across multiple regions.
- They manage the network cloud-computingly.
adjective
British English
- They opted for a cloud-computing-first approach.
- The cloud-computing platform offers robust security.
American English
- We're looking for cloud-computing experts.
- Their cloud-computing infrastructure is state-of-the-art.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The CFO approved the shift to cloud computing to reduce capital expenditure on hardware.
Academic
The paper critically examines the energy efficiency implications of large-scale cloud computing.
Everyday
I store all my photos online using cloud computing, so I can access them from my phone.
Technical
The microservices architecture is deployed across multiple availability zones using cloud computing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cloud computing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cloud computing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloud computing”
- Using 'cloud computing' as a plural (e.g., 'cloud computings').
- Confusing 'cloud storage' (a specific service) with 'cloud computing' (the broader paradigm).
- Omitting the hyphen when used as a pre-modifier (e.g., 'cloud-computing solution' is more correct than 'cloud computing solution' in formal writing).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The internet is the network. Cloud computing refers specifically to the on-demand delivery of IT resources and services over that network.
The three main service models are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Deployment models include public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud.
The opposite is typically 'on-premises' or 'on-prem' computing, where hardware and software are owned and operated locally by the organisation.
It is treated as a singular, uncountable compound noun. Use a singular verb: e.g., 'Cloud computing is transforming business.'
The delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet ('the cloud') to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.
Cloud computing is usually formal, technical, business in register.
Cloud computing: in British English it is pronounced /klaʊd kəmˈpjuːtɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /klaʊd kəmˈpjudɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be in the cloud”
- “to leverage the cloud”
- “a cloud-first strategy”
- “to lift and shift to the cloud”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'cloud' in the sky—vast, distant, and accessible from anywhere. Cloud computing is like that: vast digital resources, stored remotely, accessible from any device with the internet.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INTERNET / DIGITAL SERVICES ARE A CLOUD.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a core characteristic of cloud computing?