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

Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk, who likened the rebuilding to a bustling anthill, said residents are eager to close a deeply painful chapter.

From Reuters • Mar. 30, 2023

While wandering the sandy area by the parking lot to pass the time, I accidentally stepped on an anthill and the bugs swarmed my exposed foot.

From Slate • Nov. 23, 2019

All this has had the uncomfortable effect of "shaking a stick inside an anthill", it suggests.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2018

The island of Stromboli, north of Sicily, is shaped like an anthill and blasts white smoke from its volcano all year.

From New York Times • May 17, 2016

Aru’s mother had collected some art depicting Rama’s adventures, and now Aru recalled an image of a sage sitting on an anthill.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi