Meanings
plural nacreous clouds
- A polar stratospheric cloud.
Nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, are not commonly observed because of the remote locations and high altitudes where they form. These clouds are also called "mother-of-pearl clouds" in reference to their vivid iridescent appearance.
2008, Eric M. Wilcox, Clouds, page 166
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna luminous iridescent cloud at a high altitude that may be seen when the sun is a few degrees below the horizon
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
nacreous cloud. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nacreous%20cloud
“nacreous cloud.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nacreous%20cloud. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nacreous cloud,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nacreous%20cloud.
Source: nacreous cloud on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.