cloud computing

American

[kloud kuhm-pyoo-ting] / ˈklaʊd kəmˌpyu tɪŋ /

noun

Digital Technology.

internet-based computing in which large groups of remote servers are networked so as to allow sharing of data-processing tasks, centralized data storage, and online access to computer services or resources.

cloud computing British

noun

a model of computer use in which services stored on the internet are provided to users on a temporary basis

"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

Etymology

Origin of cloud computing

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

EU tech tsar Henna Virkkunen will unveil the new "technological sovereignty" package in Brussels, including new rules on chips, cloud computing and AI.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

He added that Marvell’s role in providing microchips and the necessary infrastructure to power data centers and cloud computing was the reason the company is “so essential.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Top EU officials don't directly name their target as the United States, but American tech dominates, from cloud computing to social media to e-commerce.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

Doerr’s timeline starts in 1980 with the personal computer and microchip revolution, followed by the browser and the internet, the iPhone and cloud computing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Currently, Amazon sells everything from groceries to cars to cloud computing services.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023