cumulus
UK: ˈkjuːmjʊləs | US: ˈkjuːmjələs
n. a type of dense, white, fluffy cloud with a flat base
n. (meteorology) a cloud formation resembling rounded masses
n. (figurative) a heap or accumulation of something
Derived from Latin cumulus (meaning "heap" or "pile"), the term was adopted into meteorological vocabulary in the early 19th century to describe clouds that appear stacked or heaped. The Latin root reflects the cloud's puffy, piled-up appearance, mirroring its original sense of physical accumulation. Over time, the word retained its core meaning while specializing in atmospheric science.
The sky was dotted with white cumulus clouds.
Meteorologists classify cumulus as low-altitude clouds.
A cumulus of paperwork covered his desk.
Children often imagine shapes in cumulus formations.
The afternoon heat triggered the growth of towering cumulus.