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• mountain
  mountain

  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).
• Mountain
  Mountain

  noun

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

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mountain

American  

[moun-tn] / ˈmaʊn tn /

noun

• mountains
  plural

1. 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).

2. a large mass of something resembling this, as in shape or size.

3. a huge amount.

   a mountain of incoming mail.

4. (initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.

5. Also called mountain wine.  British Archaic. a sweet Malaga wine.

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adjective

1. of or relating to mountains.

   mountain air.

2. living, growing, or located in the mountains.

   mountain people.

3. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size.

idioms

1. make a mountain out of a molehill. molehill.

Mountain ¹ British  

/ ˈmaʊntɪn /

noun

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

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mountain ² British  

/ ˈmaʊntɪn /

noun

1. 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

2. a huge heap or mass

   a mountain of papers

3. anything of great quantity or size

4. a surplus of a commodity, esp in the European Union

   the butter mountain

5. informal a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome

6. See molehill

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mountain Scientific  

/ moun′tən /

1. 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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mountain More Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undermountain
  noun
• mountainless
  adjective
• submountain
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mountains
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mountain

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

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mountain Mountain mountains

At the time, rescuers said he was in a "very isolated and hard-to-access mountain area" and the weather conditions were extremely severe with strong winds, heavy snowfall, and dense fog.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

The setting is the Prespa lakes region, a mountain valley where three countries—Albania, Greece and North Macedonia—share borders, a park and abundant natural resources.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

He’d go to bed probably at midnight, one o’clock, and he’s up taking the kids to school, he’s mountain biking, and he’s ready to roll.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

"A month ago there was nothing here. A rocky mountain, barely any trees, barely any shade. We're arriving now," new resident Reut Baran, 35, told AFP in front of her new home.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

According to the legend, the founder of the Academy had taken a complete set of World History books back in time and hidden them in some remote mountain cave.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

The X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia has been shut down for more than a month while state safety officials continue an investigation involving the attraction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

“As a result, three additional searches were conducted within Palomar Mountain State Park based on potential investigative leads.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The plant employs around 1,000 people and is just one of many sprawling industrial complexes standing out starkly from the lush Appalachian Mountain landscape.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Kevin Cassidy, a 28-year-old former private-equity associate at New Mountain Capital, wasn’t convinced that PE guys were in the midst of a starry glow-up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

It wasn’t thoughts of a Sandy June x Pink Mountain Pizza collab.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tributes are being paid to an 18-year-old who went missing on a hiking trip to the Romanian mountains.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Sea, sand, spiked skyline, and mountains meet in one widescreen.

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026

A detached two-story guesthouse sits on the property with a centerpiece rooftop vantage point presenting breathtaking views of the iconic Surfrider Beach, Malibu Lagoon, and rolling mountains.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Forecasters warned of elevated fire weather conditions in interior valleys, mountains and deserts across L.A.,

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

There are no clouds and the mountains, McKinley on the right, tower over us in dazzling white enormity, filling the sky while the sun warms our backs and the dogs settle into running.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• alp
• bluff
• butte
• cliff
• crag
• elevation
• eminence
• height
• mesa
• mount
• palisade
• peak
• pike
• precipice
• range
• ridge
• sierra
• tor
• volcano