cirrus

noun cir·rus \ˈsir-əs\

: a thin type of cloud that forms high in the sky

plural cir·ri \ˈsir-ˌī\

Full Definition of CIRRUS

: tendril

: a slender usually flexible animal appendage or projection: as

a : an arm of a barnacle

b : a filament of a crinoid

c : a fused group of cilia functioning like a limb on some protozoans

d : the male copulatory organ of various invertebrate animals

: a high wispy white cloud usually of minute ice crystals formed at altitudes between about 20,000 and 40,000 feet (6,000 and 12,000 meters) — see cloud illustration

See cirrus defined for English-language learners

See cirrus defined for kids

Origin of CIRRUS

New Latin, from Latin, curl

First Known Use: 1708

Rhymes with CIRRUS

cerous, peeress, scirrhous, seeress, serous

CIRRI Defined for Kids

cirrus

noun cir·rus \ˈsir-əs\

plural cir·ri \ˈsir-ī\

Definition of CIRRUS for Kids

: a thin white cloud of tiny ice crystals that forms at a very high altitude

Medical Dictionary

cirrus

noun cir·rus \ˈsir-əs\

plural cir·ri \ˈsi(ə)r-ˌī\

Medical Definition of CIRRUS

: a slender usually flexible animal appendage: as a : a fused group of cilia functioning like a limb on some protozoans b : the male copulatory organ of some worms