noun
cloak
KLOHK
noun
1
A long, loose outer garment that hangs from the shoulders, often without sleeves.
"She wrapped her cloak tightly against the cold night air."
2
Something that hides or disguises the truth.
"The charity was a cloak for his tax evasion scheme."
verb
1
To cover, hide, or disguise something.
"The scandal was cloaked in secrecy for years before it broke."
How to Use Cloak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cape-like outer garment, or (figuratively) something used to hide the truth.
Common pairings
cloak of secrecy
cloaked in mystery
wear a cloak
Word Forms
cloaked past tense, cloaks plural, cloaks singular
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Etymology
From Old French cloque, "traveling cloak," ultimately from a Celtic word for "bell" — the garment was named for its bell-like shape. A doublet of "clock" and "cloche."