Reading Theme:
Cloud Definition: Sky vs. Data Storage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：visible mass in the sky (cloud)
cloud
/klaʊd/
n.
A white or gray mass in the sky that is made of many tiny drops of water or ice.
visible mass in the sky
➕
/ˈvɪzəbəl mæs ɪn ðə skaɪ/
n.
A visible mass of condensed water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the earth's surface.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'clūd' (rock/hill), later extended to sky vapor.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine a 'clod' of dirt floating in the sky—like a cloud made of fluffy earth.
📖 Example
After the rain, the sun came out and a beautiful white cloud floated in the blue sky.
After the rain, the sun came out and a beautiful white cloud floated in the blue sky.
🔗 Collocations
thick cloud – a dense layer of cloud
cloud cover – the state of the sky being covered by clouds
dark cloud – a cloud that appears dark, often indicating rain
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
clear sky (n.) – a sky without any clouds
🌱 Derivatives
cloudy (adj.) – full of or covered with clouds
cloudless (adj.) – without any clouds
cloudiness (n.) – the state of being cloudy
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'cloud' originally meant 'rock' or 'hill' in Old English. By the 13th century, it shifted to describe visible water vapor masses due to their similar appearance to rocky mounds.
Meaning 2：remote data storage (cloud)
cloud
/klaʊd/
n.
A network of remote servers on the internet that store and manage data, instead of keeping it on your own computer.
remote data storage
➕
/rɪˈmoʊt ˈdeɪtə ˈstɔːrɪdʒ/
n.
A network of remote servers hosted on the internet used to store, manage, and process data instead of a local server or personal computer.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
I always back up my photos to the cloud so I don't lose them if my phone breaks.
I always back up my photos to the cloud so I don't lose them if my phone breaks.
🔗 Collocations
cloud storage – storing data on remote servers
cloud service – a service provided via the cloud
cloud backup – backing up data to cloud servers
🔄 Synonyms
online storage (n.) – a service that allows data to be stored on internet-connected servers
remote server (n.) – a server located at a distance, accessed over a network
cloud computing (n.) – the practice of using remote servers for data management and processing
🚫 Antonyms
local storage (n.) – data stored on a physical device near the user, such as a hard drive
physical hard drive (n.) – a tangible storage device not connected to the internet
🌱 Derivatives
cloud-based (adj.) – using cloud computing technology
cloudify (v.) – to migrate or adapt a system to cloud computing
Wordbook
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