mound

¹

[ mound ]

noun

1. a natural elevation of earth; a hillock or knoll.
2. an artificial elevation of earth, as for a defense work or a dam or barrier; an embankment.
3. a heap or raised mass:

   a mound of papers;

   a mound of hay.

4. Baseball. the slightly raised ground from which the pitcher delivers the ball. rubber ¹( def 14 ).
5. an elevation formed of earth, sand, stones, etc., especially over a grave or ruins.
6. a tumulus or other raised work of earth dating from a prehistoric or long-past period.

verb (used with object)

1. to form into a mound; heap up.
2. to furnish with a mound of earth, as for a defense.

mound

²

[ mound ]

noun

1. a globe topped with a cross that symbolizes power and constitutes part of the regalia of an English sovereign.

mound

¹

/ maʊnd /

noun

1. heraldry a rare word for orb

mound

²

/ maʊnd /

noun

1. a raised mass of earth, debris, etc
2. any heap or pile

   a mound of washing

3. a small natural hill
4. archaeol another word for barrow 2
5. an artificial ridge of earth, stone, etc, as used for defence

verb

1. often foll by up to gather into a mound; heap
2. tr to cover or surround with a mound

   to mound a grave

Other Words From

• un·mounded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mound¹

First recorded in 1505–15; of obscure origin; noun “hedge or fence used as a boundary or protection,” verb “to enclose with a fence”; compare Old English mund “hand,” hence “protection, protector”; cognate with Old Norse mund “hand,” Middle Dutch mond “protection”

Origin of mound²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mounde, mundie, from Old French monde, munde, from Latin mundus “world”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mound¹

C13 (meaning: world, C16: orb): from French monde, from Latin mundus world

Origin of mound²

C16: earthwork, perhaps from Old English mund hand, hence defence: compare Middle Dutch mond protection

Example Sentences

He has an 0.47 ERA in four career World Series appearances and the steely nerve to take the mound on one day’s rest for the last three outs of this fall’s clinching Game 5.

From Los Angeles Times

Herbert was always the one Manley wanted on the mound at the end of a game because of his competitive grit.

From Los Angeles Times

Jurado waved at a mound of mementos around her dining room table gifted by volunteers and voters — scrapbooks, posters, artwork, photo collages — mixed in among thank-you cards that need to be mailed out.

From Los Angeles Times

A young man climbed on to the mound of rubble.

From BBC

He said Valenzuela was known and honored for the person that he was on the mound, but also for so much more.

From Los Angeles Times