stratocumulus

[ strey-toh-kyoo-myuh-luhs, strat-oh- ]

noun

, plural stra·to·cu·mu·lus.

1. a cloud of a class characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumulus and the whole being at a lower altitude, usually below 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).

stratocumulus

/ ˌstreɪtəʊ-; ˌstrætəʊˈkjuːmjʊləs /

noun

1. meteorol a uniform stretch of cloud containing dark grey globular masses

stratocumulus

/ străt′ō-kyo̅o̅m′yə-ləs /

, Plural stratocumuli străt′ō-kyo̅o̅m′yə-lī′

1. A low-altitude, often patchy cloud occurring in extensive horizontal layers with distinct, rounded tops.
2. See illustration at cloud

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratocumulus¹

1890–95; strato- + cumulus ( def )

Example Sentences

Her blonde locks are teased so high above her head that depending on who you ask, it looks like a bird's nest or a stratocumulus cloud.

From Salon

Marine stratocumulus clouds over the southeastern Pacific Ocean, captured by NASA’s Terra satellite in 2002.Credit...NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL,

From New York Times

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

If you've never had mascarpone cheese, it's what I imagine biting into a thick stratocumulus cloud would taste like: light and fluffy, but with a glossy heft..

From Salon

Whereas crepuscular rays headlined Tuesday’s sunrise, Monday’s sunrise presented more texture and variety as the sun’s rays intercepted a mix of cloud types — stratus, altostratus, stratocumulus and cirrus.

From Washington Post