Standard Lemma guide

becloud

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /bɪˈklaʊd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aʊd

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause to become obscure or muddled.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cover or surround with clouds.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: passive, transitive, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cast in a negative light, cast a pall over, darken.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • 1856, Abraham Lincoln, speech given on 19 May, 1856 in Speeches and Letters of Abraham Lincoln, London: J.M. Dent, 1907, p. 46, We live in the midst of alarms; anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

make less visible or unclear

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The stars are obscured by the clouds
  • the big elm tree obscures our view of the valley

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obscure, befog, obnubilate, haze over, fog, cloud, mist

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hide, conceal

Narrower terms: overshadow

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epider. Proto-Indo-European *h1pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English cloud English becloud From be- + cloud.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: заоблачавам се (zaoblačavam se) — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • French: s'ennuager — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • French: se couvrir — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • French: s'assombrir — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Greek: συννεφιάζω (synnefiázo) — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Greek: συσκοτίζω (syskotízo) — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Greek: συγχέω (synchéo) — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Ido: nubizar — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Ido: velizar — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Italian: annebbiare — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Italian: annuvolare — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Ukrainian: затьма́рювати (zatʹmárjuvaty) — cause to become obscure or muddled
  • Ukrainian: затьма́рити (zatʹmáryty) — cause to become obscure or muddled