View synonyms for mountain

mountain

[ moun-tn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill, usually greater than 2,000 feet (610 meters).
a large mass of something resembling this, as in shape or size.
a huge amount:
a mountain of incoming mail.
(initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.
Also called mountain wine. British Archaic. a sweet Malaga wine.

adjective

of or relating to mountains:
mountain air.
living, growing, or located in the mountains:
mountain people.
resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size.

Mountain

/ ˈmaʊntɪn /

noun

the Mountain
an extremist faction during the French Revolution led by Danton and Robespierre

mountain

/ ˈmaʊntɪn /

noun

1. a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a hill and often having a rocky summit
2. ( as modifier )
  mountain people
  mountain scenery
3. ( in combination )
  a mountaintop
a huge heap or mass
a mountain of papers
anything of great quantity or size
a surplus of a commodity, esp in the European Union
the butter mountain
a mountain to climb informal.
a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome
make a mountain out of a molehill
See molehill

mountain

/ moun′tən /

A generally massive and usually steep-sided, raised portion of the Earth's surface. Mountains can occur as single peaks or as part of a long chain. They can form through volcanic activity, by erosion, or by uplift of the continental crust when two tectonic plates collide. The Himalayas, which are the highest mountains in the world, were formed when the plate carrying the landmass of India collided with the plate carrying the landmass of China.

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Other Words From

mountain·less adjective
sub·mountain adjective
under·mountain noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mountain¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mountaine, from Old French montaigne, from Vulgar Latin montānea (unrecorded), noun use of feminine of montāneus (unrecorded), from Latin montān(us) “mountainous” (from mont-, stem of mōns “hill, mountain” + -ānus -an ) + -eus, adjective suffix

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mountain¹

C18: so called because its members sat in the highest row of seats at the National Convention Hall in 1793

Origin of mountain²

C13: from Old French montaigne, from Vulgar Latin montānea (unattested) mountainous, from Latin montānus, from mons mountain

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

make a mountain out of a molehill. molehill ( def 2 ).

More idioms and phrases containing mountain

see if the mountain won't come to Muhammad ; make a mountain out of a molehill .

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Example Sentences

During the attack, the militants blew up a section of the tracks and opened fire on the train near a mountain tunnel.

From BBC

There is a possibility of heavier showers and thunderstorms hitting the southwest-facing mountains and foothills, areas that are prone to such storm patterns.

From Los Angeles Times

The Times created a map showing a hypothetical Southern California city beside the mountains and asked experts to offer their wish list of fire-risk prevention measures.

From Los Angeles Times

One of these sites is the Sunshine Canyon Landfill, a 1,036-acre landfill located in a blustery mountain pass in the northeastern San Fernando Valley where gusts often blow dust and odors into nearby communities.

From Los Angeles Times

County, especially the San Gabriel mountains and valley, the weather service said Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

mount mountain ash

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