mountain n
a a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a hill and often having a rocky summit
b (as modifier)
mountain people
c (in combination)
a mountaintop
2 a huge heap or mass
a mountain of papers
3 anything of great quantity or size
4 a surplus of a commodity, esp. in the European Union
the butter mountain
5 ♦
a mountain to climb (Brit)
informal a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome
6 ♦
make a mountain out of a molehill See →
molehill →
2 (C13: from Old French montaigne, from Vulgar Latin montanea (unattested) mountainous, from Latin montanus, from mons mountain)
Black Mountain n
the. a mountain range in S Wales, in E Carmarthenshire and W Powys. Highest peak: Carmarthen Van, 802 m (2632 ft.)
cat-o'-mountain n another name for →
catamount
great mountain buttercup n (N.Z.) See →
Mount Cook lily
Green Mountain Boys pl n
the members of the armed bands of Vermont organized in 1770 to oppose New York's territorial claims. Under Ethan Allen they won fame in the War of American Independence
Mountain n the. an extremist faction during the French Revolution led by Danton and Robespierre
(C18: so called because its members sat in the highest row of seats at the National Convention Hall in 1793)
mountain ash n
1 any of various trees of the rosaceous genus Sorbus, such as S aucuparia (European mountain ash or rowan), having clusters of small white flowers and bright red berries
2 any of several Australian eucalyptus trees, such as Eucalyptus regnans
mountain avens n See →
avens →
2
mountain bike
a type of sturdy bicycle with at least 16 and up to 21 gears, straight handlebars, and heavy-duty tyres
mountain cat n
any of various wild feline mammals, such as the bobcat, lynx, or puma
mountain chain n
a series of ranges of mountains
mountain devil n another name for →
moloch
mountain everlasting n another name for →
cat's-foot
mountain goat n
1 short for →
Rocky Mountain goat
2 any wild goat inhabiting mountainous regions
mountain laurel n
any of various ericaceous shrubs or trees of the genus Kalmia, esp. K. latifolia of E North America, which has leathery poisonous leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers, (Also called)
calico bush
mountain lion n another name for →
puma
mountain range n
a series of adjoining mountains or of lines of mountains of similar origin
mountain sheep n
1 another name for →
bighorn
2 any wild sheep inhabiting mountainous regions
mountain sickness n
nausea, headache, and shortness of breath caused by climbing to high altitudes (usually above 12000 ft.), (Also called)
altitude sickness
Mountain Standard Time n
one of the standard times used in North America, seven hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, (Abbrev.)
MST
Ngaliema Mountain n the Congolese name for (Mount) →
Stanley
Pyrenean mountain dog n
a large heavily built dog of an ancient breed originally used to protect sheep from wild animals: it has a long thick white coat with a dense ruff
Rocky Mountain goat n
a sure-footed goat antelope, Oreamnos americanus, inhabiting the Rocky Mountains. It has thick white hair and black backward-curving horns
Rocky Mountain spotted fever n
an acute rickettsial disease characterized by high fever, chills, pain in muscles and joints, skin rash, etc. It is caused by the bite of a tick infected with the microorganism Rickettsia rickettsii
