mound

1 of 2

noun

often attributive

1

a(1)

: an artificial bank or hill of earth or stones

especially : one constructed over a burial or ceremonial site

(2)

: the slightly elevated ground on which a baseball pitcher stands

b

: a rounded hill or natural formation

2

a

: heap, pile

mounds of work

b

: a small rounded mass

a mound of mashed potatoes

3

archaic : hedge, fence

mound

2 of 2

verb

ˈmau̇nd 

mounded; mounding; mounds

transitive verb

1

: to form into a mound

2

archaic : to enclose or fortify with a fence or a ridge of earth

Synonyms of mound

Noun

• bank
• mountain
• drift

Verb

• hill
• pile
• stack

Examples of mound in a Sentence

Noun

the burial mounds of an ancient people

a mound of dirty laundry

a mound of mashed potatoes

Verb

He mounded the food onto his plate.

a desk mounded with books and papers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

O’Leary, who also threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, is feeling locked in on the mound and certainly at the plate. —Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026

Near the top, mounds built over Cold War civil-defense structures offered city views. —Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Verb

In August on the Petco Park mound a comebacker struck his knee, which buckled, and he was carted off the field. —Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2026

Set out salad plates, mounding each with the salad (or serve on a large platter). —Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for mound

• bound
• browned
• crowned
• downed
• drowned
• found
• frowned
• gowned
• ground
• hound
• round
• sound

Kids Definition

mound

1 of 2 noun

ˈmau̇nd 

1

: a small hill or heap of dirt or stones (as one made to mark a grave)

2

: the slightly raised ground on which a baseball pitcher stands

mound

2 of 2 verb

: to form into a mound