What term describes clouds that develop vertically?

The term that best describes clouds that develop vertically is Cumulus clouds. Cumulus clouds are characterized by their fluffy, white appearance and the development of their vertical structure, resembling cotton-like puffs. These clouds form when warm air rises and cools, resulting in condensation that leads to notable vertical growth.

Cumulonimbus clouds, while also vertically developed, are specifically associated with thunderstorms and can be significantly larger and more intense than typical cumulus clouds. Stratus clouds, on the other hand, are low and layered, lacking vertical development, and fog is essentially stratus cloud that occurs at ground level, also without vertical development. Hence, while all of these clouds have unique characteristics, cumulus clouds clearly represent the general sense of vertically oriented cloud development in their typical form.