shroud

[ shroud ]

noun

1. a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.

   Synonyms: winding sheet

2. something that covers or conceals like a garment:

   a shroud of rain.

3. Nautical. any of a number of taut ropes or wires converging from both sides on the head of a lower or upper mast of the outer end of a bowsprit to steady it against lateral sway: a part of the standing rigging.
4. Also called shroud line. Aeronautics. any of a number of suspension cords of a parachute attaching the load to the canopy.
5. Also called shrouding. Machinery.
   1. (on a nonmetallic gear) an extended metal rim enclosing the ends of the teeth on either side.
   2. (on a water wheel) one of two rings of boards or plates enclosing the buckets at their ends.
6. Rocketry. a cone-shaped shield that protects the payload of a launch vehicle.

verb (used with object)

1. to wrap or clothe for burial; enshroud.
2. to cover; hide from view.

   Synonyms: screen, conceal

3. to veil, as in obscurity or mystery:

   They shrouded their past lives in an effort to forget.

4. to provide (a water wheel) with a shroud.
5. Obsolete. to shelter.

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic. to take shelter.

shroud

/ ʃraʊd /

noun

1. a garment or piece of cloth used to wrap a dead body
2. anything that envelops like a garment

   a shroud of mist

3. a protective covering for a piece of equipment
4. astronautics a streamlined protective covering used to protect the payload during a rocket-powered launch
5. nautical one of a pattern of ropes or cables used to stay a mast
6. any of a set of wire cables stretched between a smokestack or similar structure and the ground, to prevent side sway
7. Also calledshroud line any of a set of lines running from the canopy of a parachute to the harness

verb

1. tr to wrap in a shroud
2. tr to cover, envelop, or hide
3. archaic.
   to seek or give shelter

Derived Forms

• ˈshroudless, adjective

Other Words From

• shroudless adjective
• shroudlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shroud¹

before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English scrūd; cognate with Old Norse skrūth; akin to shred; (v.) Middle English shrouden, derivative of the noun; replacing Middle English shriden, Old English scrȳdan, derivative of scrūd

Word History and Origins

Origin of shroud¹

Old English scrūd garment; related to Old Norse skrūth gear

Example Sentences

So if you do see a shroud down the hallway, you might not want to run.

From Popular-Science

Dyar views VERITAS as one of a three-part campaign that would ideally peel back the planet’s yellow shroud—an orbiter, an atmospheric probe, and a lander.

From Popular-Science

Like most small drones, it integrates automatic obstacle avoidance and uses propeller shrouds to protect both the blades themselves and any objects, persons, or pets that might otherwise encounter them.

From Ars Technica

While in cruise flight, it pivots so that the propeller shrouds become wing-like, giving the craft an aerodynamic boost as it flies more like a fixed-wing aircraft than a helicopter.

From Popular-Science

Clouds of sulfuric acid shroud the surface from space-based observation, and the extreme heat and pressure destroy most electronics and landing gear in a very short time.

From MIT Technology Review

The shawl, we learn, weaves its way through Mexican life, from its use as a baby carrier to a shroud used to bury the dead.

From The Daily Beast

People touched the yellow feather shroud, singing “Indian Red” as the transfer of the coffin to the vehicle was done.

From The Daily Beast

They buried us without shroud or coffin And in August ... the barley grew up out of our grave.

From The Daily Beast

The most famous ones are the Mandylion of Edessa, the Veronica and the Shroud of Turin.

From The Daily Beast

Answering these questions we may come to know ourselves a little better, as well as the Shroud.

From The Daily Beast

She telegraphed to her servants to strip her house of its summer shroud, and returned early on the day of his choice.

From Project Gutenberg

A great white shroud covered the corpse, closely outlining some of its contours.

From Project Gutenberg

This shroud was almost completely eaten away at one end, and left one of the feet visible.

From Project Gutenberg

Ward pulled the shroud back, revealing a horribly mangled body.

From Project Gutenberg

Wrapped in their fiery vesture and shroud of flame, they yet exulted in their glorious victory.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloak
• pall
• veil