foothill

foothill — noun

1. a low hill that stands in the region where a tall mountain's steep sides begin t

1.名詞B1
釋義

a low hill that stands in the region where a tall mountain's steep sides begin to level out into the plains or lowlands around it

例句

The hikers rested at the foothill before attempting the final climb to the summit.

singular use: 'at the foothill' as a specific location

Romi's family owns a small tea plantation in the foothills of the Andes.

plural: 'the foothills of [mountain range]'

同義詞
  • hill

    a general term for any raised landform; 'foothill' specifies position at the base of a mountain

  • lower slope

    emphasises the continuing side of the mountain rather than a separate hill at its base

  • piedmont

    formal geographic term for the area at the foot of a mountain range; rare in everyday English

反義詞
  • summit

    the highest point of a mountain — opposite end of the mountain slope

  • peak

    the pointed top of a mountain — geographically opposite from the foothill region

文法句型

the [plural] foothills of [mountain range]

用法筆記

The plural form 'foothills' is far more common than the singular, especially when describing a region — you would normally say 'the foothills of the Alps,' not 'the foothill of the Alps.' Use the singular only when referring to one specific, individual hill.

常見錯誤

❌We drove through the foot of the mountain region.
✅We drove through the foothills.
💡'foot of the mountain' refers to the very base itself, while 'foothills' refers to the hilly area further out.
❌There are many hills at the foothill of the range.
✅There are many hills in the foothills of the range.
💡even when describing multiple hills, the region is referred to in the plural.
❌The tree line started at the foothill.
✅The tree line started in the foothills.
💡geographic zones are typically described with the plural form in standard English.