What does cirrocumuli mean?
Cirrocumuli are small, white cloud elements arranged in regular rows, ripples, or patches in a thin sheet high in the atmosphere. They are usually composed chiefly of ice crystals and are commonly observed at roughly 5–13 kilometres (3–8 miles) above Earth's surface. Despite their name, they are not a low-level form of cumulus; “cirro-” indicates their great height. Meteorologists use cirrocumulus for the cloud type and cirrocumuli for two or more such clouds or elements. The plural can refer to individual small cloudlets or to the organized formations collectively. In ordinary English the term is chiefly technical, appearing in forecasts, atmospheric science, and descriptions of cloud formations. Recognising it helps distinguish a rippled, finely textured high-cloud layer from cirrus, which tends to look more fibrous or streaked, or from cirrostratus, which forms a more continuous veil.
nounSmall, white, patchy or ripple-like cloud elements arranged in thin rows or sheets at great altitude, usually consisting chiefly of ice crystals. The plural may refer to individual cloud elements or to organized formations collectively.
- A high cloud type composed of small white cloud elements arranged in regular rows, waves, ripples, or patches.
"High cirrocumuli cast a delicate, rippled pattern across the evening sky."
"High cirrocumuli cast a delicate, rippled pattern across the evening sky."
"The meteorologist identified the thin layer of cirrocumuli as a high-altitude cloud formation."
Cirrocumuli is the standard plural of the singular noun cirrocumulus and may refer to individual cloud elements or to their organized formations collectively.
"Cirrocumuli formed narrow bands across the blue sky."
Often 5–13 kilometres above the ground, cirrocumuli turn the high sky into a rippled field of tiny ice-crystal clouds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cirrocumuli come from?
Cirrocumulus is a New Latin compound formed from Latin cirrus, meaning a curl or tuft, and cumulus, meaning a heap. The compound describes a cloud made from small elements and was adopted into English as part of a wider system of meteorological cloud nomenclature, with related names built from the same classical components.
How cirrocumuli is actually used
The term is chiefly technical and appears in meteorology, forecasting, and atmospheric science. The singular is cirrocumulus; cirrocumuli is the normal plural form.
Easily confused with cirrocumuli
Cirrocumuli form small, regularly arranged ripples or patches, whereas cirrus consists mainly of thin, fibrous or streaked cloud.
Cirrocumuli have a broken, rippled appearance, while cirrostratus forms a more continuous, sheet-like veil.