cumulus

This term evokes the image of cotton wool or cauliflower floating in the air. It carries a sense of brightness and lightness, typically associated with a sunny afternoon or a peaceful summer day. It is a technical meteorological term that has transitioned into common descriptive language to describe puffiness.

While other cloud types like stratus suggest a flat, oppressive blanket or cirrus suggests thin, wispy streaks, cumulus implies vertical growth and distinct boundaries. It is almost always used in a neutral or positive context, suggesting a clear sky rather than an impending storm, unless modified by the word nimbus.