cirrocumulus

[ sir-oh-kyoo-myuh-luhs ]

noun

, plural cir·ro·cu·mu·lus.

1. a cirriform cloud of a class characterized by thin, white patches, each of which is composed of very small granules or ripples: of high altitude, about 20,000–40,000 feet (6000–12,000 meters). : Cc

cirrocumulus

/ ˌsɪrəʊˈkjuːmjʊləs /

noun

1. meteorol a high cloud of ice crystals grouped into small separate globular masses, usually occurring above 6000 metres (20 000 feet) See also mackerel sky

cirrocumulus

/ sîr′ō-kyo̅o̅m′yə-ləs /

, Plural cirrocumuli sîr′ō-kyo̅o̅m′yə-lī′

1. A high-altitude cloud composed of a series of small, regularly arranged cloudlets in the form of ripples or grains. Cirrocumulus clouds generally form between 6,100 and 12,200 m (20,000 and 40,000 ft) and are composed exclusively of ice crystals.
2. See illustration at cloud

Other Words From

• cirro·cumu·lar cir·ro·cu·mu·la·tive [sir-oh-, kyoo, -my, uh, -ley-tiv, -l, uh, -tiv], cirro·cumu·lous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cirrocumulus¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; cirro- + cumulus

Example Sentences

A few cirrocumulus clouds were coming up from the east when we started, but we left them behind, and nothing was visible during the night but a thin hazy veil.

From Project Gutenberg

Towards afternoon, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus began to appear moving northward.

From Project Gutenberg

A few cirrocumulus continued to pass over towards east.

From Project Gutenberg

Towards morning there were a few cirrocumulus clouds passing over north-east to south-west, but these disappeared before daylight.

From Project Gutenberg