cumulonimbus

American  

[kyoo-myuh-loh-nim-buhs] / ˌkyu myə loʊˈnɪm bəs /

noun

Meteorology.

1. a cloud of a class indicative of thunderstorm conditions, characterized by large, dense towers that often reach altitudes of 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) or more, cumuliform except for their tops, which appear fibrous because of the presence of ice crystals: occurs as a single cloud or as a group with merged bases and separate tops.

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cumulonimbus British  

/ ˌkjuːmjʊləʊˈnɪmbəs /

noun

1. meteorol a cumulus cloud of great vertical extent, the top often forming an anvil shape and the bottom being dark coloured, indicating rain or hail: associated with thunderstorms

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cumulonimbus Scientific  

/ kyo̅o̅m′yə-lō-nĭm′bəs /

cumulonimbi plural

1. An extremely dense, vertically developed cloud with a low, dark base and fluffy masses that tower to great heights. Cumulonimbus clouds usually produce heavy rains, thunderstorms, or hailstorms.

2. Also called thundercloud

3. See illustration at cloud

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• cumulonimbus
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cumulonimbus

First recorded in 1885–90; cumulo- + nimbus