Definition

Noun 1. The state of the sky when it is covered by clouds: This term describes the extent to which clouds obscure the sky, often expressed as a fraction or percentage (e.g., 50% cloud cover). It is a standard meteorological observation.

Usage

• Cloud cover is used to describe the weather or atmospheric conditions. It is typically modified by adjectives indicating the degree of coverage (e.g., , , , , ).
• It is often discussed in weather forecasts, aviation reports, and climate studies.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The weather forecast predicts heavy cloud cover for the entire weekend.
  • Due to the dense cloud cover, we couldn't see the stars last night.
  • Satellite images show the cloud cover moving eastward.
  • Pilots must check reports for cloud cover and visibility before takeoff.

Advanced Usage

• "under a cloud cover": experiencing cloudy conditions.
  • The region has been under a thick cloud cover for days.
• "percentage of cloud cover": a specific measurement used in meteorology.
  • The station reported an 80% cloud cover at noon.

Variants and Related Words

• Overcast (adj/n): Describes a sky completely covered by clouds; often used synonymously with "total cloud cover."
  • The sky was overcast all morning.
• Cloudiness (n): The general state or quality of being cloudy; can be similar to cloud cover but sometimes refers to the opacity of individual clouds.
• Ceiling (n): In aviation, the height above ground level of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken or overcast.

Synonyms

• Cloudiness: The condition of being cloudy.
• Overcast: A sky completely covered by cloud.

Antonyms

• Clear skies: A state with no clouds.
• Sunshine: Direct sunlight unobstructed by clouds.

Noun

1. the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds