hill

¹

[ hil ]

noun

1. a natural elevation of the earth's surface, smaller than a mountain.

   Synonyms: foothill, hillock, knoll, mound, prominence, eminence

   Antonyms: valley, hollow

2. an incline, especially in a road:

   This old jalopy won't make it up the next hill.

3. an artificial heap, pile, or mound:

   a hill made by ants.

4. a small mound of earth raised about a cultivated plant or a cluster of such plants.
5. the plant or plants so surrounded:

   a hill of potatoes.

6. Baseball. mound ¹( def 4 ).
7. the Hill. Capitol Hill.

verb (used with object)

1. to surround with hills:

   to hill potatoes.

2. to form into a hill or heap.

Hill

²

[ hil ]

noun

1. Ambrose Pow·ell [pou, -, uh, l], 1825–65, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.
2. Archibald Viv·i·an [viv, -ee-, uh, n], 1886–1977, English physiologist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1922.
3. James Jerome, 1838–1916, U.S. railroad builder and financier, born in Canada.
4. Joe, 1879–1915, U.S. labor organizer and songwriter, born in Sweden.

hill

¹

/ hɪl /

noun

1. 1. a conspicuous and often rounded natural elevation of the earth's surface, less high or craggy than a mountain
   2. ( in combination )

      a hillside

      a hilltop

2. 1. a heap or mound made by a person or animal
   2. ( in combination )

      a dunghill

3. an incline; slope
4. over the hill
   1. beyond one's prime
   2. military absent without leave or deserting
5. up hill and down dale
   strenuously and persistently

verb

1. to form into a hill or mound
2. to cover or surround with a mound or heap of earth

Hill

²

/ hɪl /

noun

1. HillArchibald Vivian18861977MBritishSCIENCE: chemist Archibald Vivian. 1886–1977, British biochemist, noted for his research into heat loss in muscle contraction: shared the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine (1922)
2. HillDamon Graham Devereux1960MBritishSPORT AND GAMES: racing driver Damon Graham Devereux, son of Graham Hill. born 1960, British motor-racing driver; Formula One world champion (1996)
3. HillDavid Octavius18021870MScottishARTS AND CRAFTS: painterARTS AND CRAFTS: photographer David Octavius 1802–70, Scottish painter and portrait photographer, noted esp for his collaboration with the chemist Robert Adamson (1821–48)
4. HillSir Geoffrey (William)1932MBritishWRITING: poet Sir Geoffrey ( William ). born 1932, British poet: his books include King Log (1968), Mercian Hymns (1971), The Mystery of the Charity of Charles Péguy (1983), and The Orchards of Syon (2002)
5. HillGraham19291975MBritishSPORT AND GAMES: racing driver Graham. 1929–75, British motor-racing driver: world champion (1962, 1968)
6. HillOctavia18381912FBritishPOLITICS: housing reformer Octavia. 1838–1912, British housing reformer; a founder of the National Trust
7. HillSir Rowland17951879MBritishMISC: originator of penny postage Sir Rowland. 1795–1879, British originator of the penny postage
8. HillSusan (Elizabeth)1942FBritishWRITING: novelistWRITING: short-story writer Susan ( Elizabeth ). born 1942, British novelist and writer of short stories: her books include I'm the King of the Castle (1970) The Woman in Black (1983), and Felix Derby (2002)

Derived Forms

• ˈhilly, adjective
• ˈhiller, noun

Other Words From

• hiller noun
• under·hill noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hill¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hyll; cognate with Middle Dutch hille, Latin collis hill; compare Latin culmen top, peak ( column, culminate ), celsus lofty, very high, Gothic hallus rock, Lithuanian kálnas mountain, Greek kolōnós hill, kolophṓn summit ( colophon )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hill¹

Old English hyll; related to Old Frisian holla head, Latin collis hill, Low German hull hill

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go over the hill, Slang.
   1. to break out of prison.
   2. to absent oneself without leave from one's military unit.
   3. to leave suddenly or mysteriously:

      Rumor has it that her husband has gone over the hill.

2. over the hill,
   1. relatively advanced in age.
   2. past one's prime.

More idioms and phrases containing hill

see downhill all the way ; go downhill ; head for (the hills) ; make a mountain out of a molehill ; not worth a dime (hill of beans) ; old as Adam (the hills) ; over the hill .

Example Sentences

Democrats on the Hill sounded the alarm over Kennedy’s nomination, with high-ranking Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark saying she had “great concerns” over Kennedy’s “complete disregard for public health.”

From Salon

There will be sterner tests of Trump’s power on Capitol Hill to come, notably when confirmation hearings are held for his more divisive cabinet picks.

From BBC

Last week, a group of mostly male students held a raucous pro-Trump rally at Beverly Hills High School.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier, Granada Hills beat crosstown rival Kennedy 21-10 to win the Division I title — its first boys’ water polo title in school history.

From Los Angeles Times

Gaetz does have some allies on Capitol Hill who share an unwavering loyalty to Trump.

From BBC

Related Words

• bluff
• cliff
• dune
• highland
• hillside
• hilltop
• ridge
• slope