altostratus

noun

al·​to·​stra·​tus ˌal-tō-ˈstrā-təs  -ˈstra- 

plural altostrati ˌal-tō-ˈstrā-ˌtī 

-ˈstra-

: a fairly uniform mid-altitude layer of gray cloud darker than cirrostratus see cloud illustration

Examples of altostratus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mid-level clouds are usually gray and are identified as either altocumulus, altostratus, or nimbostratus. —Catherine Zuckerman, National Geographic, 24 Apr. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French alto-stratus, from Latin altus "high" + French -o- -o- + stratus stratus — more at altitude

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

altostratus

noun

al·​to·​stra·​tus ˌal-tō-ˈstrāt-əs  -ˈstrat- 

: a layer of gray cloud similar to cirrostratus but darker and at a lower level