nimbostratus

American  

[nim-boh-strey-tuhs, -strat-uhs] / ˌnɪm boʊˈstreɪ təs, -ˈstræt əs /

noun

plural

nimbostratus

1. a cloud of a class characterized by a formless layer that is almost uniformly dark gray; a rain cloud of the layer type, of low altitude, usually below 8,000 feet (2,440 meters).

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nimbostratus British  

/ -ˈstrɑːtəs, ˌnɪmbəʊˈstreɪtəs /

noun

1. a dark-coloured rain-bearing stratus cloud

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nimbostratus Scientific  

/ nĭm′bō-străt′əs /

plural

nimbostrati

1. A dark, gray, mid-altitude cloud that often covers the entire sky and precipitates rain, snow, or sleet. Nimbostratus clouds generally form around 2,000 m (6,560 ft) but often extend to much higher and lower altitudes.

2. See illustration at cloud

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Etymology

Origin of nimbostratus

First recorded in 1885–90; nimbo- + stratus

Example Sentences

While much of environmental news is grim these days, there’s a snowy silver lining to the nimbostratus clouds overhead: parched areas of the US that most need precipitation are getting it.

From The Guardian • Dec. 31, 2015

Although there are infinite shapes a cloud can take, the common classification system includes 10 types: cumulonimbus, cumulus, stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, altostratus, altocumulus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus and cirrus.

From Time Magazine Archive