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).
a large mass of something resembling this, as in shape or size.
a huge amount.
a mountain of incoming mail.
(initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.
Also called mountain wine. British Archaic. a sweet Malaga wine.
of or relating to mountains.
mountain air.
living, growing, or located in the mountains.
mountain people.
resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size.
a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a hill and often having a rocky summit
( as modifier )
mountain people
mountain scenery
( in combination )
a mountaintop
a huge heap or mass
a mountain of papers
anything of great quantity or size
a surplus of a commodity, esp in the European Union
the butter mountain
informal a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome
See molehill
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
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
New moves to revive growth and upgrade the mountain experience take a page from Delta and United, Rob Katz says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
"It was unreal," he said, adding that while ponies grazing on the mountain had escaped, he feared for a neighbour's pigs as flames swept through surrounding land.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
On Thursday’s opening mountain stage, a frisky Pogacar ripped away from an elite selection of contenders and put more than 2 ½ minutes into his nearest rival.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The newly discovered spider was found at elevations above 2,000 meters, and its species name, himalayana, honors the mountain range where it was discovered.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
We could be up a mountain or at a lakeside campground.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
A record-smashing heat wave was spreading Tuesday from the Mountain West toward the eastern United States and Canada, placing more than 100 million people under heat alerts.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
The Zebra fire began Monday around 7 p.m. near State Route 39 and Mountain Laurel Way in Azusa and has closed the highway at Sierra Madre Highway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Purple Mountain Observatory, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is one of China's leading centers for dark matter research.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Speaking shortly before Monday’s attacks began, Trump further announced that the U.S. would strike Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified, underground nuclear site yet to be targeted since the war began Feb. 28.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
He came to The Mountain to sell goods from The Kingdom—colorful threads, clay pots, and wooden spoons.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Unlike trees, mountains, rivers, clouds, and animals, which are dominated by curved and branching forms, crystals stand out because of their flat surfaces and straight edges.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
A dirty grey mound is all that remains of the salt mountains that once filled the building, now a weathered steel skeleton.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
She loved Thalori, a compound of traditional guesthouses set in a village in the Cretan mountains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
The answer can be found at open dumping sites across Tangerang, including in the areas surrounding the actual landfill, which have precipitated the growth of noxious trash mountains within a hundred metres of people's homes.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Not just people, but animals and villages, and roads and kingdoms, even mountains.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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.
