plural cirri
ˈsir-ˌī 
1
: tendril
2
: a slender usually flexible animal appendage or projection: such as
a
: an arm of a barnacle
b
: a filament of a crinoid
c
: a fused group of cilia functioning like a limb on some protozoans
d
: the male copulatory organ of various invertebrate animals
3
: a high wispy white cloud usually of minute ice crystals formed at altitudes between about 20,000 and 40,000 feet (6,000 and 12,000 meters) see cloud illustration
Examples of cirrus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, not even a cirrus wisp or fading contrail.
—
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 July 2024
The water vapor and cirrus clouds that planes trail behind them look picturesque, but their warming impact is three times that of carbon.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 28 Dec. 2022
An orographic cirrus cloud formation on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, as seen at night by the Suomi NPP satellite on 12/18/13.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2013
Aside from those brief glimpses through the storm, the cirrus clouds resembled a flat blanket beneath the deep blue sky.
—Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for cirrus 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 July 2024
The water vapor and cirrus clouds that planes trail behind them look picturesque, but their warming impact is three times that of carbon.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 28 Dec. 2022
An orographic cirrus cloud formation on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, as seen at night by the Suomi NPP satellite on 12/18/13.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2013
Aside from those brief glimpses through the storm, the cirrus clouds resembled a flat blanket beneath the deep blue sky.
—Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for cirrus
Dictionary Entries Near cirrus
Cite this Entry
“Cirrus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cirrus. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cirrus
noun
cir·rus
ˈsir-əs
plural cirri
ˈsi(ə)r-ˌī
: a thin white cloud usually of tiny ice crystals formed at altitudes about 20,000 to 40,000 feet (6,000 to 12,000 meters)
Medical Definition
cirrus
noun
cir·rus
ˈsir-əs
plural cirri
ˈsi(ə)r-ˌī
: a slender usually flexible animal appendage: as
a
: a fused group of cilia functioning like a limb on some protozoans
b
: the male copulatory organ of some worms
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share