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

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

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

The clock says 5:30 a.m., but the parking lot of Sonora Market already has become an anthill as trucks cruise in and out disgorging farmworkers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2022

At this moment he saw Dandelion, who had run well ahead, squatting on an anthill clear against the sky.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams