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 shrouding. 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 called: shroud 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

Other Word Forms

• shroudless adjective
• shroudlike 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

Rescuers could not find enough funeral shrouds for all the bodies.

From BBC

The arrests of four major Scottish crime figures in Dubai remain shrouded in mystery more than 10 days after they were taken into custody.

From BBC

Other pictures showed people mourning beside at least six bodies in white shrouds and plastic bags laid on the floor outside al-Ahli hospital.

From BBC

The valley is shrouded in a heavy drizzle and the streets are quiet on the road to Ystalyfera.

From BBC

BBC Verify has authenticated footage showing around 30 bodies wrapped in shrouds and blankets next to the mosque, which was located in the west of the city.

From BBC

Related Words

• cloak 
• pall 
• veil