Definition of overcast in English:

overcast

adjective

1(of the sky or weather) marked by a covering of grey cloud; dull.
‘a chilly, overcast day’
- ‘As a result, when it reaches the British Isles it tends to produce dull, overcast weather often with drizzle.’
- ‘The overcast sky lingered, threatening to rain again.’
- ‘In spite of the overcast skies and chilly weather, the Scots came through on top, beating the Cobbers 4-0.’
- ‘The overcast sky and the foggy shoreline sandwiched the towering city behind them whilst the four travelers made their way down the beach to the water.’
- ‘The visibility was limited somewhat by a grey, overcast sky and plankton bloom, which constrained the photography to macro shots.’
- ‘The glitz and glamour was in stark contrast to the mostly dull, overcast weather.’
- ‘A heavy overcast sky presses down relentlessly as the passing traffic swallows up the remaining air.’
- ‘It was a grey day with an overcast sky, the sort of day when nothing looks very good.’
- ‘A fine, misty rain fell lightly from the overcast sky, which hung in a looming shade of dull grey.’
- ‘Despite overcast skies, the rain held off and the day was enjoyed by all who attended.’
- ‘They ran in silence with their unresolved arguments hanging over them like the grey, dreary overcast sky.’
- ‘There were overcast skies, intermittent rain and heavy mists.’
- ‘Rolling over and stretching, she reached for the nearest curtain and threw it back, letting in a dark light, due to the overcast skies and rainy weather.’
- ‘Conditions were in contrast to the recent good Irish weather; overcast skies, cool temperatures and a slight headwind, which suited the Irish.’
- ‘The sky was overcast and cloudy, and a thick fog blanketed everything.’
- ‘And a somewhat overcast sky has dulled the ocean's blues.’
- ‘The weather was typical of this time of year with dull, overcast skies, intermittent drizzle and a drop in temperature.’
- ‘Dim light from the grey overcast sky outside passed faintly into the room.’
- ‘Though the overcast sky threatens rain at some later point in the day, the early afternoon is still pleasant enough for sitting outdoors.’
- ‘The Jamaicans were frozen, despite the overcast weather.’
cloudy, clouded, clouded over, overclouded, sunless, darkened, dark, grey, black, leaden, heavy, dull, murky, dirty, misty, hazy, foggy, louring, threatening, menacing, promising rain, dismal, dreary, cheerless, sombre
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2(of the edge of a piece of fabric) sewn with long slanting stitches to prevent fraying.
- ‘Make new zipper stops by hand sewing a few overcast stitches on the edge of each tape just above the last tooth.’
- ‘Trim the seam allowance and clean-finish the edge with a zigzag or overcast stitch.’

noun

[mass noun] Cloud covering a large part of the sky.
‘the planes found the target obscured by overcast’
- ‘You could see nothing but the cirrus overcast from horizon to horizon.’
- ‘I entered the low overcast at about 1000 feet and broke out at 2000 feet, levelled off and recorded the first readings.’
- ‘As was common during the war, only the flight leader would fly by instruments through this overcast.’
- ‘Its main purpose was for bombing through an overcast.’
- ‘There was a slight overcast of clouds, but the predicted rain had yet to come.’
- ‘The dark overcast hid any hint of the sun, and a bitterly cold wind swept in out of the west, carrying a promise of snow.’
- ‘The early spring drizzle died away as the late afternoon sun peeked through the grey overcast covering the city, stroking the higher rooftops with a gold glow.’
- ‘Despite continuing rain and heavy overcast, Burke launched the attack.’
- ‘I looked out the window and saw black overcast in the distance.’
- ‘The weather was terrible but we climbed on top and flew over a solid overcast for more than 400 miles.’
- ‘Why are there occasions when a low, thick overcast of clouds appears to be heavy with moisture but no rain occurs?’
- ‘Flying conditions were similar in both years, mainly under sunny skies and scattered clouds with some periods of high or low overcast.’
- ‘I began a turn to a downwind pattern to stay close to base and remain underneath the overcast.’
- ‘One afternoon three of them came in from the sea in close line astern under a solid overcast.’
- ‘It was a gray day outside, periodic flakes drifting out of the overcast.’
- ‘The snow hasn't quite started as of yet this season, but judging from the gray overcast and the fringed icy wind, you can tell it really wants to.’
- ‘The sky is definitely looking menacing with its gray overcast.’

verb

[WITH OBJECT]

1Cover with clouds or shade.
‘the pebbled beach, overcast with the shadows of the high cliffs’
- ‘The whole sky was now overcast with heavy clouds and a part of it even looked a little green.’
- ‘The sun was overcast by clouds, and the air was spring-like, but the miasma of the swamps added a sour, heavy scent.’
- ‘As he wrote a shadow overcast his folder, and he looked up to see Sarah standing next to him.’
- ‘The sky overhead was overcast with great gray clouds, and the atmosphere was actually kind of moody.’
2Stitch over (a raw edge) to prevent fraying.
‘finish off the raw edge of the hem by overcasting it’