anthill

American  

[ant-hil] / ˈæntˌhɪl /

noun

1. a mound of earth, leaves, etc., formed by a colony of ants in digging or constructing their underground nest.

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Etymology

Origin of anthill

1250–1300; Middle English amete hulle, ampte hille; see ant, hill

Explanation

The mounded nest that ants build out of dirt or sand is called an anthill. You can call a similar mound built by termites an anthill too. While an anthill is a kind of nest, it is generally formed when ants dig underground colonies and deposit the extra soil in one spot. In this way, an anthill is more of a doorway to a whole series of tunnels and nests, although the anthill itself will sometimes also contain nests. In some cases, ants shape the anthill into a specific, deliberate shape.

Example Sentences

But Oloya could not resist walking by an anthill without scooping some of the fresh, soft clay from it and creating a ball for a slingshot or something else from it.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2024

The position is so vast and covered in trenches, bunkers and tunnels that some parts have been compared to an anthill.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2023

“But if you’re in charge of a hydroelectric green-energy project and there’s an anthill in the region to be flooded, too bad for the ants. Let’s not place humanity in the position of those ants.”

From Slate • May 9, 2023

"If I buy fertilizer, it means my grandchildren will not go to school. I had to use anthill soil and compost as manure but, as you know, that will not yield much," said 50-year-old Kanenungo.

From Reuters • Mar. 22, 2023

The lift doors opened; the old witch with the anthill hair left, and Ron darted past her out of sight.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling