mountain
//ˈmaʊn.tɪn//
Forms
- Plural
- mountains
Definitions
1.An elevation of land of considerable dimensions rising more or less abruptly, forming a conspicuous figure in the landscape, usually having a small extent of surface at its summit.
- Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
- We spent the weekend hiking in the mountains.
- We collected plant specimens from mountain meadows above 2000 meters.
2.Something very large in size or quantity; a huge amount; a great heap.
- There's still a mountain of work to do.
- He was a real mountain of a man, standing seven feet tall.
3.A difficult task or challenge.
- Five minutes into the game the Black Cats were facing a mountain, partly because of West Brom's newly-found ruthlessness in front of goal but also as a result of the home side's defensive generosity.
4.A woman's large breast.(slang)
- Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1097
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Uncommon
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English mountayne, mountain, montaigne, from Anglo-Norman muntaine, muntaigne, from Early Medieval Latin montānia, a collective based on Latin montem (“mountain”), from Proto-Indo-European *monti (compare Welsh mynydd (“mountain”), Albanian mat (“bank, shore”), Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬙𐬌 (mati, “promontory”)), from *men- (“to project, stick out”).