cirrostratus
[sir-oh-strey-tuh s, -strat-uh s]
- a cloud of a class characterized by a composition of ice crystals and often by the production of halo phenomena and appearing as a whitish and usually somewhat fibrous veil, often covering the whole sky and sometimes so thin as to be hardly discernible: of high altitude, about 20,000–40,000 feet (6000–12,000 meters).
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Origin of cirrostratus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cirrostratus
Historical Examples
Cirri and cirrostratus clouds have been very prevalent during the day, and cumulostratus during the night.
Successful Exploration Through the Interior of AustraliaWilliam John Wills
Night clear and very cold; no wind; towards morning, sky became slightly overcast with cirrostratus clouds.
Successful Exploration Through the Interior of AustraliaWilliam John Wills
Towards afternoon, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus began to appear moving northward.
Successful Exploration Through the Interior of AustraliaWilliam John Wills
cirrostratus
- a uniform layer of cloud above about 6000 metres (20 000 feet)
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cirrostratus
[sîr′ō-străt′əs]
- A thin, hazy, high-altitude cloud composed of ice crystals, often covering the sky in sheets and producing a halo effect around the sun. Cirrostratus clouds generally form between 6,100 and 12,200 m (20,000 and 40,000 ft). See illustration at cloud.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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