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Cirrus Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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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.

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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.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

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.

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.

Origin of 'cirrus'

Main points about word origin

  • 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.

The word 'cirrus' originates from the Latin word meaning a lock of hair or curl. It was first used in the meteorological context in the early 19th century to describe these high-altitude, wispy clouds. Cirrus clouds are an important indicator of atmospheric conditions and have been studied for centuries by meteorologists.

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.