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mountain

 - 4 dictionary results

moun⋅tain

[moun-tn]
–noun
1. 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 2000 ft. (610 m).
2. a large mass of something resembling this, as in shape or size.
3. a huge amount: a mountain of incoming mail.
4. (initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.
5. Also called mountain wine. British Archaic. a sweet Malaga wine.
–adjective
6. of or pertaining to mountains: mountain air.
7. living, growing, or located in the mountains: mountain people.
8. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size.
9. make a mountain out of a molehill. molehill (def. 2).

Origin:
1175–1225; ME mountaine < OF montaigne < VL *montānea, n. use of fem. of *montāneus, equiv. to L montān(us) mountainous (mont-, s. of mōns mountain + -ānus -an ) + -eus adj. suffix


moun⋅tain⋅less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To mountain
moun·tain   (moun'tən)   
n.  
  1. Abbr. Mt. or Mtn. A natural elevation of the earth's surface having considerable mass, generally steep sides, and a height greater than that of a hill.

    1. A large heap: a mountain of laundry.

    2. A huge quantity: a mountain of trouble.


[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.]
moun'tain·y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

mountain 
c.1205, from O.Fr. montaigne, from V.L. *montanea "mountain, mountain region," lit. fem. of *montaneus "of a mountain, mountainous," from L. montanus "mountainous," from mons (gen. montis) "mountain" (see mount (n.)). Until 18c., applied to a fairly low elevation if it was prominent (e.g. Sussex Downs, the hills around Paris). Mountain dew "raw and inferior whiskey" first recorded 1839.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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