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 mountain wine. British Archaic. a sweet Malaga wine.
of or relating to mountains.
mountain air.
living, growing, or located in the mountains.
mountain people.
resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size.
a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a hill and often having a rocky summit
( as modifier )
mountain people
mountain scenery
( 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
informal a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome
See molehill
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
A mountain is a large and often steep landmass that's much higher than the surrounding area. It's not to be confused with a molehill. The word mountain has been around since the 1200s. A mountain is much larger than an average hill; it's a mass of land that rises up to 2000 feet or so. Mountain does not always describe a land mass. It can also be used to refer to an undertaking, a pile of something, or even a large dose of trouble. You might have a mountain of mashed potatoes you don't want to eat, or a mountain of homework.
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The Hammetschwand Lift, a rocket-shaped metal lattice tower and the highest outdoor lift in Europe, shoots up 152 metres to the mountain summit.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
You climb and climb, you’re at the top of the mountain.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026
One of the most comically disastrous franchises of the past quarter-century has climbed atop the mountain.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026
The study also identified consistent differences between glaciers located on the coastal side of mountain ranges and those farther inland.
From Science Daily • Jun. 12, 2026
We could be up a mountain or at a lakeside campground.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
