altocumulus

American  

[al-toh-kyoo-myuh-luhs] / ˌæl toʊˈkyu myə ləs /

noun

Meteorology.

plural

altocumulus

1. a cloud of a class characterized by globular masses or rolls in layers or patches, the individual elements being larger and darker than those of cirrocumulus and smaller than those of stratocumulus: of medium altitude, about 8000–20,000 feet (2450–6100 meters).

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altocumulus British  

/ ˌæltəʊˈkjuːmjʊləs /

noun

1. a globular cloud at an intermediate height of about 2400 to 6000 metres (8000 to 20 000 feet)

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altocumulus Scientific  

/ ăl′tō-kyo̅o̅′myə-ləs /

plural

altocumuli

1. A mid-altitude cloud composed of fleecy white or gray patches or bands. Altocumulus clouds generally form between 2,000 and 6,100 m (6,560 and 20,000 ft).

2. See illustration at cloud

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Etymology

Origin of altocumulus

First recorded in 1890–95; alto- + cumulus

Example Sentences

The meteorological name for the clouds is altocumulus lenticularis.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2025

Brilliant red, orange and scarlet sunsets often take place in the presence of higher cirrus or altocumulus clouds instead of low-level clouds such as stratus or stratocumulus.

From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023

“However, when our scientists examined it closely, they were shocked to realize a storm had come through during that July and August of 1892 and Hassam was actually capturing an altocumulus cloud formation.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2016

An altocumulus lenticularis, meanwhile, is a vast, tightly bunched flock of clouds stretching across the sky at altitudes from 6,500 to 23,000 feet.

From New York Times • May 4, 2016

Also, altocumulus clouds, shown on the bottom picture of the next page, which look like fuzzy bubbles in long rows, are usually an early warning sign that a cold front is coming.

From Time Magazine Archive