cloudage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/LowPoetic/Literary/Technical (meteorology)
Quick answer
What does “cloudage” mean?
A collective term for clouds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A collective term for clouds; the state or extent of cloud cover in the sky.
The condition of being cloudy or overcast; figuratively, a gloomy or melancholy state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in usage; the word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary feel.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both spoken and written English. More likely to be encountered in 19th-century literature or specific technical descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “cloudage” in a Sentence
The [noun] was obscured by cloudage.Cloudage over the [region] persisted.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potential use in meteorology or descriptive geography papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. One would say 'cloudy' or 'cloud cover'.
Technical
Used in some meteorological contexts to quantify the fraction of the sky covered by cloud.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloudage”
- Using it in casual speech.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈklaʊdɪdʒɪz/ (cloudages). It is generally uncountable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare. 'Cloud cover' or 'cloudiness' are far more common.
No, 'cloudage' is solely a noun. The verb form is 'to cloud'.
They are synonyms, but 'cloudiness' is the standard modern term. 'Cloudage' sounds more technical or literary.
Yes, but they might find it unusual or poetic. The meaning is transparent from the words 'cloud' and '-age' (a collective or state suffix).
A collective term for clouds.
Cloudage is usually poetic/literary/technical (meteorology) in register.
Cloudage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklaʊdɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklaʊdɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Cloud-age' as in the 'age of clouds' covering the sky.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOUDAGE IS A BLANKET / CLOUDAGE IS A VEIL
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cloudage' MOST appropriately used?