cloud cover: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediate (B2)Technical/Formal (meteorology), occasionally journalistic or literary for metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “cloud cover” mean?
The fraction of the sky obscured by clouds when observed from a particular location.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The fraction of the sky obscured by clouds when observed from a particular location.
A meteorological term describing the extent and thickness of cloud layers in the atmosphere; can also be used metaphorically to describe something that obscures or hides.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. UK forecasts more commonly use 'oktas' (e.g., '5 oktas cloud cover'). US forecasts more often use percentages or descriptive terms like 'partly cloudy'.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In everyday UK speech, might be phrased as 'a lot of cloud' or 'overcast'.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to more frequent discussion of weather conditions.
Grammar
How to Use “cloud cover” in a Sentence
[VERB] + cloud cover (e.g., The satellite measures cloud cover.)[ADJECTIVE] + cloud cover (e.g., dense cloud cover)cloud cover + [VERB] (e.g., The cloud cover cleared by noon.)under + [ADJECTIVE] + cloud cover (e.g., under dense cloud cover)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cloud cover” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The front is expected to cloud cover the region by midday.
- Mist clouded over the hills, effectively covering the view.
American English
- The system will cloud cover the Midwest overnight.
- Smoke from the fires clouded over the valley, covering the sun.
adverb
British English
- The sky was cloud-covered completely.
- It was a densely cloud-covered morning.
American English
- The region remained heavily cloud-covered for days.
- The mountains were persistently cloud-covered.
adjective
British English
- The cloud-cover forecast was inaccurate.
- We need the cloud-cover data for the satellite pass.
American English
- The cloud cover map shows extensive overcast conditions.
- The cloud-forecast models predicted 80% coverage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in industries like aviation, agriculture, or solar energy where weather impacts operations.
Academic
Common in geography, environmental science, and meteorology papers.
Everyday
Used in general weather conversation and forecasts.
Technical
Core term in meteorology, aviation weather reports (METAR), and climatology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cloud cover”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cloud cover”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloud cover”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a cloud cover' - incorrect).
- Confusing with 'cloudy', which is the adjective form describing the state.
- Misspelling as 'cloudcover' (should be two words or hyphenated in compound modifiers: 'cloud-cover data').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two words. It is hyphenated when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., cloud-forecast data).
'Cloudy' is a general adjective describing the weather condition. 'Cloud cover' is a specific, often measurable, noun phrase referring to the fraction of the sky covered by clouds.
In many contexts, yes, they are interchangeable. However, 'cloud cover' is the more standard term in formal meteorology, while 'coverage' might emphasize the geographic extent.
It means the sky is completely overcast, with 8/8ths (100%) of the sky obscured by clouds.
The fraction of the sky obscured by clouds when observed from a particular location.
Cloud cover is usually technical/formal (meteorology), occasionally journalistic or literary for metaphorical use. in register.
Cloud cover: in British English it is pronounced /klaʊd ˈkʌvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /klaʊd ˈkʌvɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A blanket of cloud”
- “Under a cloud (metaphorical, different meaning)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a duvet COVER made of CLOUDs lying over the sky.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOUDS ARE A COVERING/BLANKET (The sky was covered with a thick grey blanket).
Practice
Quiz
How is cloud cover typically measured in a UK weather report?