roll cloud

noun

A low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively rare type of arcus cloud, differing from shelf clouds by being completely detached from other cloud features.

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Meanings

nounroll cloud (plural roll clouds)

plural roll clouds

  1. climatologyA low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively rare type of arcus cloud, differing from shelf clouds by being completely detached from other cloud features.

Origin

They usually appear to be "rolling" about a horizontal axis.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

roll cloud. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/roll%20cloud

MLA

“roll cloud.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/roll%20cloud. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “roll cloud,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/roll%20cloud.

Source: roll cloud on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.