a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
mountain (ˈmaʊntɪn) | |
—n | |
1. | 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; mountain scenery | |
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. | informal (Brit) a mountain to climb a serious or considerable difficulty or obstruction to overcome |
6. | make a mountain out of a molehill See molehill |
[C13: from Old French montaigne, from Vulgar Latin montānea (unattested) mountainous, from Latin montānus, from mons mountain] |
mountain (moun'tən) Pronunciation Key
A generally massive and usually steep-sided, raised portion of the Earth's surface. Mountains can occur as single peaks or as part of a long chain. They can form through volcanic activity, by erosion, or by uplift of the continental crust when two tectonic plates collide. The Himalayas, which are the highest mountains in the world, were formed when the plate carrying the landmass of India collided with the plate carrying the landmass of China. |
mountain
see if the mountain won't come to Muhammad; make a mountain out of a molehill.