hillock
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hillock
First recorded in 1350–1400, hillock is from the Middle English word hilloc. See hill, -ock
Explanation
A hillock is a small mound of land that's often nearby a group of taller hills. Small children can rarely resist rolling down a grassy hillock. The word hillock was formed by adding the Old English diminutive -oc to hill, meaning "little hill." You can also call this small, ridged slope of land a knoll. You might sit in the shade of a hillock to eat your picnic lunch, or watch your dog scampering up and down hillocks covered in wildflowers. While you may get out of breath running up a hill, you'll scale a hillock with no problem.
Vocabulary lists containing hillock
"Coming of Age in the Dawnland," Vocabulary from the historical excerpt
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Very, Very Far North
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A String in the Harp
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Father Luget, Mr Halliday says, claimed to have seen the light over a hillock in the rectory garden and to have seen the Crucifixion above it and the Virgin Mary kneeling before it.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2023
WINTHROP, Okanogan County — On a rocky hillock crowned with lupine and yarrow, Methow Conservancy Executive Director Sarah Brooks surveyed the Sunny M Ranch on the eve of a historic land deal.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 16, 2023
In the afternoon, we reached the bottom and waited on a hillock for Aidano to drive us to Lengai Safari Lodge.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2023
Railway workers are planning to build a sandy hillock there where the badgers can dig their homes.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2023
He stole away, and sat down on a green hillock not far from his bed.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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.
