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Overcast

Weather
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A sky condition completely covered by dense cloud, creating a dull, grey atmosphere frequently used in poetry to set a somber mood.

Detailed Definition
Overcast describes conditions in which clouds cover all or nearly all of the sky, reducing direct sunlight and flattening shadows. The clouds may be high and pale or low and heavy, and overcast weather can precede rain, snow, or a quiet dry day. In poetry, an overcast sky often creates a mood of waiting, enclosure, or emotional neutrality, with light spread evenly across a muted world.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Under an overcast sky, even noon forgot its color” uses cloud cover to create a muted emotional atmosphere; “The overcast lowered over the town like an unspoken thought” makes the sky a metaphor for anxiety or grief; A poet can contrast an overcast morning with a sudden bright object, as in “One yellow coat crossed the gray street”; In a meditative poem, overcast weather can soften shadows and make the world feel hushed, suspended, or undecided
Additional Notes
Overcast describes total cloud cover, often creating muted light and a subdued mood. Poets may use it to suggest uncertainty, grief, waiting, or calm.
Also Known As
Clouded Gloomy Overclouded Sunless
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