What does "cumulonimbus" mean?
A cloud with a tall structure and flat base, often associated with thunderstorms.
Cumulonimbus
/ˌkju.mjə.loʊˈnɪm.bəs/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A cloud with a tall structure and flat base, often associated with thunderstorms.
- Grammar: cumulonimbus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cumulonimbus cloud, thundercloud, thunderclouds, thunderhead.
- Usage evidence: Cumulonimbus are a dense and vertically developed cloud that produces thunderstorms. The cloud can bring heavy showers, hail, lightning, high winds and sometimes tornadoes.
How to use "cumulonimbus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cumulonimbus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cumulonimbus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cumulonimbus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cumulonimbus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cumulonimbus" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cumulonimbus cloud" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cumulonimbus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A cloud with a tall structure and flat base, often associated with thunderstorms.
"The one to the east (which at the moment seemed to be leaping straight out of the heart of a sinister slaty-purple patch of cumulonimbus) drained the Lake of the Hanging Glaciers; that to the west a desolate rock and ice-walled valley which was rimmed by some of the highest summits in the Selkirks."
- 2 a dark cloud of great vertical extent charged with electricity; associated with thunderstorms wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Cumulonimbus are a dense and vertically developed cloud that produces thunderstorms. The cloud can bring heavy showers, hail, lightning, high winds and sometimes tornadoes."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cumulonimbus"?
Common synonyms include: cumulonimbus cloud, thundercloud, thunderclouds, thunderhead.
How do you use "cumulonimbus" in a sentence?
Cumulonimbus are a dense and vertically developed cloud that produces thunderstorms. The cloud can bring heavy showers, hail, lightning, high winds and sometimes tornadoes.
How do you pronounce "cumulonimbus"?
Pronounced /ˌkju.mjə.loʊˈnɪm.bəs/.
Etymology
From Latin cumulus (“heap”) + nimbus (“cloud”).