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stratus

Other forms: strati

A low, flat cloud is called a stratus. When the sky is full of stratus clouds, it can make the day feel gray and dull.

Stratus can be used as a noun or an adjective: "I can't see the moon—there are too many stratus clouds tonight." Strati are characterized by their dense haziness. They are basically fog that sits low in the atmosphere, occasionally releasing small amounts of rain or snow. Sometimes they're called "high fog." In Latin, stratus means "a spreading."

Definitions of stratus
  1. noun
    a large dark low cloud
    synonyms: stratus cloud
    see moresee less
    types:
    altostratus, altostratus cloud
    a stratus cloud at an intermediate altitude of 2 or 3 miles
    type of:
    cloud
    a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude
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