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cirrostratus

[ sir-oh-strey-tuhs, -strat-uhs ]

noun

, plural cir·ro·stra·tus.
  1. 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).


cirrostratus

/ ˌsɪrəʊˈstrɑːtəs /

noun

  1. a uniform layer of cloud above about 6000 metres (20 000 feet)


cirrostratus

/ sîr′ō-strătəs /

, Plural cirrostrati sîr′ō-strătī′

  1. 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).
  2. See illustration at cloud


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Derived Forms

  • ˌcirroˈstrative, adjective

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Other Words From

  • cirro·strative adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cirrostratus1

First recorded in 1795–1805; cirro- + stratus

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Example Sentences

Cirri and cirrostratus clouds have been very prevalent during the day, and cumulostratus during the night.

The vapour having then risen, occupied the upper air in the form of light cirrostratus and cumulus clouds.

Night clear and very cold; no wind; towards morning, sky became slightly overcast with cirrostratus clouds.

Towards afternoon, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus began to appear moving northward.

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cirrosecirrus