clouded

Clouded is the past participle of the verb cloud and an adjective used to describe something obscured, dimmed, or covered by a cloud-like layer. The term is commonly applied in two broad senses: meteorological and perceptual.

In meteorology, clouded describes the sky or weather conditions when clouds cover a portion or all of the sky, reducing brightness and often visibility. Descriptions such as partly clouded, mostly cloudy, or overcast are common in weather reports and forecasts, indicating varying levels of cloud cover that can affect sunlight and assessment of conditions on the ground or at the horizon.

In medicine and everyday language, clouded can refer to vision or transparency becoming unclear due to material opacity. Clouded vision is most often associated with cataracts, where the lens of the eye becomes opaque and vision appears blurred or dim. Other causes of clouded vision include corneal edema, inflammation, or severe dry eye.

Figuratively, clouded is used to describe states of mind or perception that are unclear or influenced by doubt, emotion, or confusion. Phrases such as clouded judgment or clouded memories convey a sense of obscurity or unreliability in thought or recall.

Etymology connects clouded to the noun cloud and to the broader metaphor of obscuring light or clarity. The term has appeared in English since the Middle Ages to describe both literal weather phenomena and figurative obscuration. See also: cloud, fog, mist, overcast.