shroud

1 of 2

noun

ˈshrau̇d 

 especially Southern  ˈsrau̇d

1

: burial garment : winding-sheet, cerement

2

: something that covers, screens, or guards: such as

a

: one of two flanges that give peripheral support to turbine or fan bedding

b

: a guard (as of ceramic or fiberglass) that protects a spacecraft from the heat of launching

3

a

: one of the ropes leading usually in pairs from a ship's mastheads to give lateral support to the masts

b

: one of the cords that suspend the harness of a parachute from the canopy

4

obsolete : shelter, protection

Illustration of shroud

• 1 shroud 3a

shroud

2 of 2

verb

shrouded; shrouding; shrouds

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut off from view : obscure

trees shrouded by fog

this point is shrouded in uncertainty

—Henry James

b

: to veil under another appearance (as by obscuring or disguising)

shrouded the decision in a series of formalities

2

: to dress for burial

3

a

archaic : to cover for protection

b

obsolete : conceal

intransitive verb

archaic : to seek shelter

Synonyms

Noun

• blanket
• cloak
• cope
• cover
• cover-up
• covering
• coverture
• curtain
• hood
• mantle
• mask
• pall
• penumbra
• robe
• veil
• wraps

Verb

• belie
• blanket
• blot out
• cloak
• conceal
• cover
• curtain
• disguise
• enshroud
• hide
• mask
• obscure
• occult
• paper over
• screen
• suppress
• veil

Examples of shroud in a Sentence

Noun

the truth of the affair will always be hidden under a shroud of secrecy

Verb

The mountains were shrouded in fog.

Their work is shrouded in secrecy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Published in Nature Astronomy, the study reveals that there may be a shroud of gas around every galaxy that stretches up to a million light years. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

That tragedy will always hang over the film like a shroud. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024

Verb

But seeing it on satellite over Pine Island Glacier was rare because the area is usually shrouded in clouds, according to NASA. —Eric Zerkel, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024

The topic will assuredly be revisited again on the upcoming Modest Mouse album but will likely be shrouded in metaphors and colorful language that will require a few listens to sort out. —Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, garment, from Old English scrūd; akin to Old English scrēade shred — more at shred entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a

Phrases Containing shroud

• futtock shroud

Kids Definition

shroud

1 of 2 noun

ˈshrau̇d 

1

: the cloth placed over or around a dead body

2

: something that covers or shelters like a shroud

a shroud of secrecy

3

: one of the ropes that go from the masthead of a ship to the sides to provide support to the mast

shroud

2 of 2 verb

: to cover with or as if with a shroud

shrouded in fog