mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇n-tᵊn 

often attributive

1

a

: a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill

The sun set behind the mountains.

b

: an elongated ridge

2

a

: a great mass

a mountain of a man

—E. K. Brown

b

: a vast number or quantity

a mountain of mail

a mountain of debt

Synonyms

• alp
• hump
• mount
• peak

Examples of mountain in a Sentence

She watched the sun set behind the mountains.

a cabin in the mountains

They both like mountain climbing.

We've received a mountain of mail.

Recent Examples on the Web

Saperstein also suggests a helicopter flight to the summit of a nearby mountain, for dinner and a night spent under the stars in a mobile fly camp. —Leora Rothschild, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2024

File photo taken in June 2013 shows Mount Rainier as seen from a helicopter flying south of the mountain and west of Yakima, Wash. Elaine Thompson / AP Her body was found at the base of Pebble Creek's Moraine Falls above Paradise. —Brian Dakss, CBS News, 12 June 2024

Over 30 years ago, human remains were found in a remote area on a mountain pass in Colorado. —Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024

From there, a tractor convoy would set out across West Antarctica on a high ice plateau that runs alongside the continent’s tallest mountain range. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English montaine, monteine, mounteyne, borrowed from Anglo-French muntaine, monteigne, mountaigne "elevated region, mountain range, mountain" (also continental Old French, Middle French montagne), going back to Vulgar Latin *montānea, from Latin mont-, mons "mountain, hill" + Vulgar Latin *-ānea, collective suffix, from neuter plural of Latin -āneus (from -ānus -an entry 2 + -eus -eous) — more at mount entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mountain

• acute mountain sickness
• American mountain ash
• Bernese mountain dog
• cat-a-mountain
• European mountain ash
• make a mountain out of a molehill
• mountain ash
• mountain bicycle
• mountain bike
• mountain biking
• mountain bluebird
• mountain chain
• mountain coati
• mountain cranberry
• mountain dew
• mountain goat
• mountain gorilla
• mountain laurel
• mountain lion
• mountain mahogany
• mountain man
• mountain sheep
• mountain sickness
• mountain time
• snow-on-the-mountain
• Welsh mountain pony

Kids Definition

mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn 

1

: an elevation higher than a hill

2

: a great mass or huge number

a mountain of mail