Definition of "virga" []

• Wisps of precipitation streaming from a cloud but evaporating before reaching the ground. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "When used singly, the acutus, too, retained its shape fairly accurately and from its shape received the name virga (virgula)."
• "There was a horizon-to-horizon rainbow to the northeast, a "sun pillar" to the northwest, and "virga" - wisps of precipitation (such as snow or ice) streaming down from a cloud but evaporating before reaching the ground."
• "Most of this -- and -- and, folks, get ready -- this is a nerd alert for you -- most of this is virga, which is precipitation that's so light, it's not even reaching the surface of the Earth."