hill

hill · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A naturally raised area of land, smaller than a mountain.

  2. 2.

    A heap or mound of something.

  3. 3.

    An incline on a road.

  4. 4.

    To form into a heap or mound.

Forms

plural: hills

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    over the hill — past one's prime; old
  • •
    uphill battle — a difficult struggle
  • •
    king of the hill — the dominant person in a group
  • •
    make a mountain out of a molehill — exaggerate a small problem
  • •
    not worth a hill of beans — worthless

Related words

Antonyms: depression, hollow, valley
See also: elevation, mountain, slope, valley
Synonyms: elevation, knoll, mound, rise

Etymology

From Old English "hyll" (hill), from Proto-Germanic "hulniz," from Proto-Indo-European "kel-" (to rise, be elevated). Cognate with Latin "collis" (hill) and Greek "kolonos" (hill). The word has remained remarkably stable in English throughout its history.