altocumulusn.
/ˌaltəʊˈkjuːmjᵿləs/, U.S. /ˌæltoʊˈkjumjələs/, /ˌɔltoʊˈkjumjələs/, /ˌɑltoʊˈkjumjələs/ Meteorology.
Cloud forming a layer of rounded masses with a level base, occurring at medium altitude (typically 6,500 to 23,000 ft, 2 to 7 km); a cloud of this type. Frequently attributive.
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the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [noun] > a cloud > cumulus > at high altitude
altocumulus1881
alto1905
1881 Jrnl. N.-China Branch Royal Asiatic Soc. 16 i. 246 Those clouds (alto-cumuli, cirri, cirro-strati), of a thousand shapes and varieties, are always of a graceful aspect.
1898 Jrnl. School Geogr. (U.S.) Oct. 297 The development of alto-cumulus and heavy cumulus clouds over the land, while out to sea only small cumuli were visible.
1957 F. H. Forrester 1001 Questions answered about Weather ii. 41 Open sky patches are often seen through an altocumulus deck.
1991 E. Arnason Woman of Iron People (1992) i. ii. 33 Alto-cumuli moved across the sky, which was deep blue-green.
2001 J. Waterman Arctic Crossing i. 46 The sun flows out like yellow honey from under a bank of altocumulus clouds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1881