mountainous

UK: ˈmaʊn.tɪ.nəs | US: ˈmaʊn.tən.əs

Definition

  1. adj. having many mountains

  2. adj. resembling a mountain in size or shape

  3. adj. extremely large or massive

Structure
mountain <large natural elevation>ous <adjective suffix, "full of">
Etymology

The word "mountainous" combines "mountain," derived from Old French montaigne (itself from Latin montanea, meaning "mountainous region"), with the suffix "-ous," from Latin -osus, indicating abundance. The fusion reflects a literal sense of "full of mountains" and later extended metaphorically to describe anything massive or towering. The suffix "-ous" is a common adjectival marker in English, often transforming nouns into descriptors (e.g., "joyous," "dangerous").

Examples

  1. The mountainous terrain made hiking challenging.

  2. She gazed at the mountainous waves during the storm.

  3. The region is known for its mountainous landscapes.

  4. A mountainous pile of paperwork awaited him on his desk.

  5. The ship navigated through the mountainous icebergs.