cumulo-, cumul-, cumuli-

1. To gather into a heap.
2. To combine or to merge into one unit or group.

1. A reference to something that is increasing or enlarging with more additions: The cumulative impact of the California drought has been devastating; especially, for agricultural production!
2. Of or relating to interests or dividends which are added to the next payments if the bills have not been paid when on time.
4. In Law, supporting the same point as earlier evidence was doing: cumulative evidence.
5. A penalty that is imposed with greater severity when someone is a repeat offender: cumulative punishment.

Of or relating to clouds that are characterized by vertical developments in the forms of rising mounds, domes, or towers.

Descriptive of a pile or mound or a reference to something that is heaped up.

1. A cloud formation that resembles thick, snowy-white hills with darker horizontal bases: The cumulus cloud rolled ominously across the sky today.
2. Large white puffy clouds which usually appear during fair weather. Some cumuli form thunderheads on hot days and may even carry rain.

1. To hinder or to impede the action or performance of: The lack of funding is encumbering the project that the city council is working on.

The war against the terrorists has been encumbered by a mutual lack of trust and cooperation by the countries.

2. To make a person or something carry anything that is very heavy: Jake and his family were encumbered by the heavy equipment and supplies that they had to move from one place to another one when they went camping in different places during the summer.

As a hiker, Frank was encumbered with a heavy pack because he had to make sure he had what was necessary to survive while he was walking in the wilderness and mountainous areas.

3. To load with debt or liability: Joe refused to encumber his estate with mortgages. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A reference to having put a heavy load on; burdened: Sharon was a hiker who was encumbered with a heavy pack.
2. Pertaining to a difficult situation with legal or financial obligations: All's house had encumbered debts which made it difficult for him to pay off the mortgage.

1. A burden or a hindrance: A mortgage on property is known as an encumbrance because it makes it very difficult to sell it to another person.

While encumbrances usually relate to real-estate property, a purchaser of personal property is provided with a warrant (written assurance) of title against any unknown encumbrances.

2. A extra weight that causes a strain and makes something very difficult to do: Ann's extra suitcase was an encumbrance; especially, when she tried to get on the train.

1. In meteorology, a principal cloud classification, characterized by gray or white, usually stratiform layers that nearly always have dark patches: Stratocumuli are usually arranged in orderly groups, lines, or waves, and composed of small water droplets, sometimes accompanied by larger droplets, soft hail, and (rarely) snowflakes.
2. A cloud formation in a low-lying extensive layer with large dark round or rolling masses.

Characteristic of not being burdened with worries, cares, or responsibilities.