mound: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; common in descriptive, historical, and sports contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mound” mean?
A raised area of earth, often rounded, either natural or artificially created.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A raised area of earth, often rounded, either natural or artificially created.
A large pile or quantity of something; in baseball, the pitcher's raised area; a burial or ceremonial hill.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'mound' is strongly associated with baseball (the pitcher's mound). In British English, this specific sports usage is less common.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can have historical/archaeological connotations (e.g., burial mounds). In AmE, the sports connotation is primary in certain contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to the baseball term.
Grammar
How to Use “mound” in a Sentence
[verb] + a mound (build/construct/erect a mound)a mound + [preposition] + [noun] (a mound of papers/earth)[adjective] + mound (earthen/grassy mound)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mound” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to mound the soil around the base of the roses for protection.
- The gardener mounded up the compost.
American English
- He mounded the mashed potatoes high on the plate.
- Workers mounded dirt over the old foundation.
adjective
British English
- The mound-building wasps were active near the shed.
- They studied mound-building cultures.
American English
- The mound builder societies left fascinating artifacts.
- It was a classic mound-type ant nest.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically refer to a large accumulation of work or debt.
Academic
Common in archaeology, anthropology, geology, and history (e.g., 'Neolithic burial mounds').
Everyday
Used for describing small hills, piles of soil in gardening, or clutter ('a mound of laundry').
Technical
Specific in archaeology (tumulus, barrow), baseball (pitcher's mound), and zoology (termite/ant mound).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mound”
- Using 'mountain' for a small, man-made hill.
- Misspelling as 'maund' or 'mounde'.
- Using incorrect prepositions (e.g., 'mound with earth' instead of 'mound of earth').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A mound is typically smaller, more rounded, and can be artificial. A hill is a larger natural landform.
Yes, it means to heap or pile something into a mound-like shape (e.g., 'mound the potatoes').
In baseball, it is the slightly raised area in the centre of the infield from which the pitcher throws the ball.
A barrow is a specific type of mound – an ancient burial mound. All barrows are mounds, but not all mounds are barrows.
A raised area of earth, often rounded, either natural or artificially created.
Mound is usually neutral to formal; common in descriptive, historical, and sports contexts. in register.
Mound: in British English it is pronounced /maʊnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /maʊnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mound of Venus (anatomical term)”
- “over the mound (baseball: past the pitcher)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MOUND' as 'MOUND of earth' – the word itself sounds rounded and full, like the shape it describes.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCUMULATION IS A MOUND (e.g., a mound of paperwork, a mound of evidence).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mound' LEAST likely to be used?