What term is used for water expelled from the cloud base that does not reach the ground?

The term used for water expelled from the cloud base that does not reach the ground is "virga." This phenomenon occurs when precipitation falls from a cloud, but instead of making it to the surface, it evaporates as it descends through dry air. As the raindrops or ice crystals fall, they may lose moisture due to the lower humidity and higher temperatures closer to the Earth, resulting in a visible streak or wispy appearance often observed in the sky, especially under certain light conditions. This is a relevant concept in meteorology and aviation, as virga can indicate atmospheric conditions that might affect flight operations or weather forecasting.

Other terms like "microburst" reference specific downdraft conditions during thunderstorms, while "spitting" is not a recognized meteorological term in this context. Thus, virga is the accurate terminology used to describe this specific weather phenomenon.