Cirrus: meaning, definitions and examples

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cirrus

[ˈsɪrəs ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

cloud formation

Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds typically found at high altitudes. They are often wispy and have a feathery appearance. Cirrus clouds are usually a sign of fair weather, but can also indicate that a change in the weather is coming.

Synonyms

feathery clouds, wispy clouds.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
cirrus	Technical reports or formal writing when clarity and exactness are important. A detailed map showed the distribution of cirrus clouds over the region. Cirrus formations were analyzed in the recent weather study.
wispy clouds	Casual conversation or informal descriptions, to evoke a visual image of thin and light clouds. Today the sky is filled with wispy clouds, almost like cotton candy. Wispy clouds often signal a change in the weather.
feathery clouds	Creative writing, poetry, or when describing clouds in a more artistic or descriptive way. The sky was adorned with feathery clouds, like strokes of an artist's brush. Feathery clouds drifted lazily across the blue expanse.

Word

Description / Examples

cirrus

Technical reports or formal writing when clarity and exactness are important.

A detailed map showed the distribution of cirrus clouds over the region.
Cirrus formations were analyzed in the recent weather study.

wispy clouds

Casual conversation or informal descriptions, to evoke a visual image of thin and light clouds.

Today the sky is filled with wispy clouds, almost like cotton candy.
Wispy clouds often signal a change in the weather.

feathery clouds

Creative writing, poetry, or when describing clouds in a more artistic or descriptive way.

The sky was adorned with feathery clouds, like strokes of an artist's brush.
Feathery clouds drifted lazily across the blue expanse.

Examples of usage

The sky was filled with cirrus clouds, indicating that it would be a sunny day.
As the cirrus clouds began to thicken, we knew a storm was on the way.

Interesting Facts

Meteorology

These clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals due to the cold temperatures at their high altitude.
Cirrus clouds can indicate a change in the weather, often signaling that a storm might be on the way.
They usually appear in fair weather but can also form in advance of fronts or storms.

Etymology

The term 'cirrus' comes from Latin, meaning 'curl' or 'lock of hair,' reflecting the clouds' delicate wispy form.
It was first used in meteorological terminology in the early 19th century to classify high-altitude clouds.

Art

Artists often use the image of cirrus clouds to evoke feelings of tranquility and serenity in landscape paintings.
The visual similarity of cirrus clouds to brush strokes influences how artists depict sky in their work.

Science

Cirrus clouds typically form above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) in the atmosphere, where temperatures are well below freezing.
They play a role in the Earth's heat balance by allowing sunlight to pass through while trapping some heat, contributing to global warming.

Photography

Photographers often seek out cirrus clouds for their visual appeal, as they can enhance sunsets and sunrises with color variations.
Time-lapse photography of cirrus clouds can showcase their dynamic movement across the sky, creating mesmerizing visual effects.

Translations

Translations of the word "cirrus" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cirro

🇮🇳 सिरस बादल

🇩🇪 Cirruswolke

🇮🇩 awan sirus

🇺🇦 перисті хмари

🇵🇱 cirrus

🇯🇵 巻雲 (けんうん)

🇫🇷 cirrus

🇪🇸 cirro

🇹🇷 sirüs

🇰🇷 권운

🇸🇦 سحب السمحاق

🇨🇿 cirrus

🇸🇰 cirrus

🇨🇳 卷云 (juǎn yún)

🇸🇮 cirrus

🇮🇸 klóblika

🇰🇿 шашыран бұлт

🇬🇪 ცირუსი

🇦🇿 sirus

🇲🇽 cirro

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,464, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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24461 milch
24462 adapters
24463 soured
24464 cirrus
24465 mountainside
24466 unacknowledged
24467 testable
...