mount

MOWNT/maʊnt/

Verbmounts, mounting, mounted

Noun pluralmounts

24 meanings of mount

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To fix something firmly onto a stand, frame, or other support so it stays in place.
They mounted the painting on the wall above the fireplace.
You can mount the shelf with just four screws.
UsageSay mount something on a wall or stand.
Similarfix, install, fit, attach, set
Oppositeremove, detach
2
high hillnouncountable
A tall, raised piece of land, like a hill or mountain.
We hiked halfway up Mount Rainier before it started to snow.
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the best-known parts of the Bible.
UsageUsed in names: Mount Everest.
Similarmountain, hill, peak
3
holdernouncountable
A support or frame that holds another object in place.
The jeweler set the diamond into a gold mount.
He fixed a new mount to hold the telescope steady.
Similarframe, support, bracket, backing
4
build upverbintransitivewith up
To grow bigger or stronger over time.
Like a snowball getting bigger and bigger as it rolls downhill.
Excitement mounted as the final whistle approached.
Tensions mount whenever the two rivals meet.
UsageSay bills mount up, or mounting problems.
Similarbuild
Oppositesubside, diminish, decrease, ease
5
verbtransitive
To plan and start something big, such as an attack, a campaign, a show, or a play.
The rebels mounted a surprise attack at dawn.
The team will mount a strong defense in court.
UsageSay mount an attack or mount a campaign.
Similarlaunch, stage, organize, start (entry), initiate
Note
6
nouncountable
An animal, usually a horse, that someone rides. Also a bike or car used in a race.
She brushed her mount before the long ride.
Each rider chose a strong mount for the journey.
Similarhorse
7
connect (computer)verbtransitive
To connect a drive or device so the computer can use it.
Like plugging in a new drawer so you can reach everything kept inside it.
You need to mount the USB drive before copying files.
The system mounted the backup disk automatically.
Oppositeunmount, eject
Note

Less common meanings

8
get on (horse)verbtransitive
To get up onto a horse, bike, or similar in order to ride it.
She mounted the horse and rode off down the trail.
He likes to mount his bike and ride to work each day.
UsagePeople often say get on a horse. The opposite is dismount.
Oppositedismount
9
verbtransitive
To go up something, like stairs or a hill, or to rise up into the air.
They mounted the steep stairs to the attic.
We watched the climbers mount the rocky ridge.
Similarclimb, ascend, scale
Oppositedescend
Note
10
verbtransitive
To climb on top of another animal or person to have sex.
The stallion mounted the mare in the spring paddock.
Bulls will mount cows repeatedly during the breeding season.
Note
11
top position (fight)nouncountable
A grappling position where one fighter sits on top of another's chest.
Like sitting on top of someone to keep them pinned to the floor.
He escaped the mount before his opponent could strike.
Getting the mount gives a fighter a big advantage.
UsageSay take the mount or escape the mount.
Note
12
verbtransitive
To sit on top of a fighter's chest to control them in grappling.
He mounted his opponent and held him down on the mat.
Try to mount your training partner from side control.
UsageSay she mounted her opponent.
13
gymnastics startnouncountable
The first move in a gymnastics routine, when you climb onto the equipment.
Like the first big step you take to climb onto a tall bed.
Her mount onto the balance beam was smooth and steady.
The gymnast practiced her mount until she could spring onto the bars in one motion.
Oppositedismount
Note
14
put on horsebackverbtransitive
To put someone on a horse, or to give them a horse to ride.
The sergeant mounted his troops before the long march.
They will mount every new recruit on a trained horse.
Note
15
add butterverbtransitive
To stir cold butter or other fat into a sauce to make it smooth and rich.
Like stirring cream into coffee to make it smoother and richer.
Chefs often mount a sauce with butter just before serving.
Mount the gravy with a little butter to make it glossy.
UsageSay mount a sauce with butter.
Note
16
hill on shieldnouncountable
A small green hill drawn at the bottom of a shield in a coat of arms.
Like a little grassy hill drawn at the foot of a picture.
A green mount sat at the bottom of the knight's shield.
The artist painted a small mount beneath the lion on the crest.
Note
17
nounobsolete
A soldier on horseback who serves in a cavalry group.
Note
18
verbobsoletetransitive
To lift something up or make it rise higher.
What power is it which mounts my love so high?
c. 1604, William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”Here, mounts means lifts up or raises high.
Note
19
verbobsolete
To add up to a certain amount or value.
Bring then these blessings to a strict account, Make fair deductions, see to what they mount.
1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man.Here, mount means add up to a total, amount to.
Note
20
nounobsolete
A raised wall or pile of earth built to attack or defend.
⸿ For thus hath the Lord of hoſtes said ; Hew yee downe trees and ‖ caſt a mount againſt Jeruſalem : this is the citie to be viſited, ſhe is wholly oppreſſion in the midſt of her.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, mount means a raised pile of earth built for attacking a city.
Note
21
nounobsolete
A store of money set aside for a shared purpose.
Note
22
noundated
A small step or block that helps you climb onto a horse.
23
noun
A small raised pad on the palm that some people link to a planet.
24
noun
A command or sign that tells riders to climb onto their horses.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 2, 16, 20–21

From an old English word for a hill, which came from Latin mōns meaning 'hill' or 'mountain'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

The noun mount derives from Old English munt. en.wiktionary.org
Old English munt meant a hill. en.wiktionary.org
Old English munt was borrowed from Latin mōns. en.wiktionary.org
Latin mōns meant a hill or mountain. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3–15, 17–19

From an old French word meaning 'to climb', which came from Latin for 'mountain'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The verb mount comes from an Old French word meaning 'to climb', via Middle English and Anglo-Norman. en.wiktionary.org
The French word ultimately derives from a Latin word meaning 'mountain'. en.wiktionary.org