I'm currently reading a Japanese book on clouds, and am hoping someone can
shed some light on the exact meaning of a cloud type called 「入道雲」. The English
translation would be "cumulonimbus", but I'm hoping to get a breakdown on if
there is particular meaning in the word 入道雲.

積乱雲 is listed as an alternate word for "cumulonimbus" in this book, and I'd
also love to know what the meaning of that word is if possible. I believe 入道
means priest or monk (and I have no idea how that would relate to this cloud),
but I can't find a meaning for 積乱 anywhere.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-10-09T03:31:06.193
28564
2021-09-01T00:17:28.750
2021-09-01T00:17:28.750
30454
11274
question
meaning words etymology
Looking for meaning of 「入道雲」
入道雲{にゅうどうぐも} is named after
[大入道{おおにゅうどう}](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cny%C5%ABd%C5%8D), a giant
[妖怪{ようかい}](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dkai) in Japanese folklore. A
huge 積乱雲 is likened to a standing giant.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T04:09:10.737
28565
2015-10-09T07:45:35.780
2015-10-09T07:45:35.780
5229
10770
28564
answer
The meteorological term 積乱雲, like its Latin counterpart _cumulonimbus_ , is a
combination of 積雲 ( _cumulus_ ) and 乱雲 ( _nimbus_
).[[1]](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A9%8D%E4%B9%B1%E9%9B%B2) The kanji 積
means stacked or accumulated, and 乱 means disordered or in chaos.

入道雲 is a common, non-technical word that refers to cumulonimbus or large
cumulus clouds. 入道 was a term for big muscular monks, which the large clouds
resembled.[[2]](http://kids.gakken.co.jp/kagaku/110ban/text/1437.html)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T04:22:03.470
28566
2015-10-09T11:43:18.743
2015-10-09T11:43:18.743
888
888
28564
answer