Mountain definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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Definitions (25)

American Heritage Dictionary (3)

noun A natural elevation of the earth's surface having considerable mass, generally steep sides, and a height greater than that of a hill.
noun A large heap: a mountain of laundry.
noun A huge quantity: a mountain of trouble.

Century Dictionary (18)

An elevation of land of considerable dimensions rising more or less abruptly above the surrounding or adjacent region. Ordinarily no elevation is called a mountain which does not form a conspicuous figure in the landscape; hence, what is a mountain in one region might be regarded as simply a hill in another. A region may have great elevation above the sea-level, but not be recognized as a mountain. Thus, the Plains, or the region between the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, have an elevation on their western edge as great as that of the highest points of the Appalachian range. Elevated regions not mountains are often called plateaus. Elevations, although of considerable height, if quite isolated or precipitous, are often called rocks: as, the Rock of Gibraltar. Peak is occasionally used in the same way: as, Pike's Peak; the Peak of Teneriffe; and in the United States, in regions formerly occupied or explored by the French, the word butte is employed with a somewhat similar meaning, while mound is used over a considerable extent of country, especially in Wisconsin, as nearly the equivalent of butte or mount. For ranges or connected series of mountains, see mountain-chain. We retourned towardes Iherusalem by the mountaynes of Jude. Sir R. Guylford, Pylgrymage, p. 38. Mountains interpos'd Make enemies of nations. Cowper, Task, ii. 17. 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes the mountain in its azure hue. Campbell, Pleasures of Hope, i. 7.
Something resembling a mountain in being large; something of extraordinary magnitude; a great heap: as, a mountain of rubbish. So many hadde thei slayn of men and of horse that the mounteins of bodyes were a-boute hem so grete that noon myght come to hem but launchinge. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 333. If it can confer anie thinge to the montan of your Majesties praise, and it were but a clod use it and the auctour as yours. A. Hume, Orthographie (E. E. T. S.), Ded., p. 3. See skulking Truth to her old cavern fied, Mountains of Casuistry heap'd o'er her head ! Pope, Dunciad, iv. 642.
A wine made from grapes grown on high ground. See II., 2. Very little old Mountain or Malaga sweet wine is grown. Redding, Modern Wines (1851), p. 201.

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On the northern slope of the mountain is the road from Frιjus to Cannes, which leaves the Estιrel at Mandelieu. — Riviera Towns
This mountain was a very active volcano. — The Story of Atlantis and the Lost Lemuria
I close my lecture with a quotation from the writings of a celebrated mountaineer--`In all cases the man rather than the mountain is at fault There is truth in what you say," observed Lewis, rising, with a yawn Nay, but," returned his friend, seriously, "your mother, who is made very anxious by your reckless expeditions, begged me to impress these truths on you. — Rivers of Ice
And not a mountain is here, but a mere man's heart--already "moved," for he has loved her It is summer again. — Browning's Heroines
Last night my mountain was all pink and silver, and I have seen it purple and rose. — A Voice in the Wilderness

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hill · forest · rock · river · cliff · island · desert · land · cloud · peak · tower · road

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

Middle English mountaine, from Old French montaigne, muntaigne, from Vulgar Latin *montānea, from feminine of *montāneus, of a mountain, from Latin montānus, from mōns, mont-, mountain; see men-² in Indo-European roots.

Century Dictionary (1)

from Middle English mountaine, mountein, montain, montaine, muntaine, montaigne, from Old French montaigne, muntaine, French montagne = Provencal montanha, montagna, montayna = Spanish montaña = Portuguese montanha = Italian montagna, from Middle Latin montanea, also montana, a mountain, a mountainous region, from Latin montana, neuter plural, mountainous regions, from montanus, of or belonging to a mountain, mountainous, from mon (t-)s, a mountain: see mount. Mountain is related to mount as fountain is to fount.

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