Definition

1. Noun:

   • A naturally raised area of land, not as high or rugged as a mountain: A "hill" is a natural elevation of the earth's surface, smaller than a mountain, often with a rounded summit.
   • An artificial heap or mound: A "hill" can also refer to a man-made pile of earth or stones.
   • (Baseball) The pitcher's mound: In baseball, "the hill" specifically refers to the slightly elevated area where the pitcher stands.

2. Verb:

   • To form into a heap or mound: To "hill" means to pile or bank up earth, often around the base of a plant.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The house sits on top of a grassy hill.
  • Ancient burial hills can be found across the landscape.
  • The new pitcher took his place on the hill.

• Verb:

  • You should hill the potatoes to protect the tubers from sunlight.

Advanced Usage

• "Over the hill": An idiom meaning past one's prime or too old.

  • Some people think you're over the hill at forty, but I disagree.

• "To make a mountain out of a molehill": An idiom meaning to exaggerate a minor problem, making it seem much more serious than it is.

  • Don't make a mountain out of a molehill; it's just a small scratch on the car.

Variants and Related Words

• Hilly (adj): Having many hills.

  • The hilly terrain made the hike more challenging.

• Hillock (n): A small hill or mound.

  • We picnicked on a sunny hillock.

• Hillside (n): The sloping side of a hill.

  • The sheep grazed on the steep hillside.

Synonyms

• Mound: A small hill or a pile of earth, stones, or other material.
• Knoll: A small, rounded hill.
• Rise: An upward slope; a piece of rising ground.

Phrasal Verbs

• Hill up (phrasal verb): To draw earth up around the base of a plant.
  • Remember to hill up the corn plants for support.

Related Idioms

• Up hill and down dale: Everywhere; all over the countryside (suggesting arduous travel over varied terrain).

  • They searched up hill and down dale for the lost dog.

• King of the hill: A person who is preeminent in a particular field or competition.

  • After winning the championship three times, she was the undisputed king of the hill.

Noun

1. (baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands
2. risque English comedian (1925-1992)
3. United States railroad tycoon (1838-1916)
4. structure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones
   • they built small mounds to hide behind
5. a local and well-defined elevation of the land
   • they loved to roam the hills of West Virginia

Verb

1. form into a hill