# hill

Pronunciation: say "HIL" /hɪl/

## Noun

1. A raised area of land, higher than its surroundings but smaller than a mountain.
   - Simple: A raised piece of land that is higher than the ground around it but smaller than a mountain.
   - _The old farmhouse stood on a gentle hill overlooking the valley._
   - _Hikers climbed several hills before reaching the ridge._
2. A section of road that slopes upward or downward.
   - Simple: A part of a road that goes up or down a slope.
   - _The truck slowed as it ground up the long hill._
   - _Cyclists dread the hills on this winding route._
3. In baseball, the raised mound of dirt from which the pitcher delivers the ball.
   - Simple: In baseball, the small raised area where the pitcher stands to throw.
   - _The veteran took the hill to a standing ovation from the home crowd._
   - _The manager pulled the starter and sent a reliever to the hill._
5. In gardening, a small mound of earth heaped around the base of a plant or a cluster of plants, such as potatoes or squash. *(US)*
   - Simple: In gardening, a small pile of soil around the bottom of a plant or group of plants.
   - _Each potato plant sat at the center of its own hill of loose soil._
   - _Farmers form hills to keep the roots covered._

## Verb

4. To heap earth or other material into a mound, especially around the base of plants.
   - Simple: To pile soil or other material into a mound, especially around the bottom of plants.
   - _Experienced growers hill their celery to keep the stalks pale and tender._
   - _She hilled the beans after the first heavy rain._

## Other meanings

- (noun) On a vinyl record, the raised portion of the grooved playing surface.

## Origin

A Proto-Indo-European root meaning top, hill, or rock led to Proto-Germanic *hulliz, then Old English "hyll" (hill) and Middle English "hil." Relatives include Latin "collis" (hill), Old Norse "hóll," and Russian "холм" (xolm, hill).

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/hill (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).