mountain

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”). Displaced native Old English beorg and dūn, and partially displaced non-native Old English munt, from Latin mōns (whence English mount).

noun

1. (countable) 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.
   Wherever a geologist directs his attention in the midst of a scene of mountains, traces of ruin and decay always meet his eye; and the lofty prominences of our globe, supposed to be the most permanent of nature's works, every where display unequivocal marks of the lapse and effects of time. 1807, Joseph Wilson, “Preliminary Observations”, in A History of Mountains, Geographical and Mineralogical, volume 1, London: Nicol, White, Faulders & Asperne, pages xlvi–xlvii
2. (countable) Something very large in size or quantity; a huge amount; a great heap.
   He was a real mountain of a man, standing seven feet tall.
   There's still a mountain of work to do.
   Iraq says the mountain of documentation it has provided to the United Nations shows it is innocent of harbouring weapons of mass destruction. America continues to maintain that it has evidence that this is a pack of lies. 2002-12-09, “A Mountain of Lies?”, in The Economist
3. (figurative) 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. 2011-10-01, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport
4. (uncountable, now historical) Wine from Malaga made from grapes that grow on a mountain.
   Called on Courtenay, with whom I walked to Hampstead Heath, and got into excellent spirits, enjoying fine fresh air; then dined with him tête-a-tête on mutton broth and mackerel and drank mountain and old port moderately. 1785-1789, James Boswell, The English Experiment (diaries)
5. (countable, slang) A woman's large breast.
6. (cartomancy) The twenty-first Lenormand card.