mound
mound — noun
1. A raised area made from soil, rocks, or other natural materials that rises above
A raised area made from soil, rocks, or other natural materials that rises above the surrounding ground, often created by nature or by human activity.
Indra climbed to the top of the ancient burial mound to see the valley below.
collocation: burial mound
Ants had built a small mound of dirt beside the garden wall.
mound of [material] pattern
The children rolled down the grassy mound in the park, laughing all the way.
A large mound of earth stood where the farmer had dug a new pond.
文法句型
mound of + noun
用法筆記
Often used in archaeology for ancient burial sites (burial mound).
2. A large, rounded mass of items or loose material gathered together in one place.
A large, rounded mass of items or loose material gathered together in one place.
Darius heaped a huge mound of mashed potatoes onto his plate and added gravy.
collocation: mound of + food
A mound of clean laundry sat on the dining table waiting to be folded.
Papers formed a messy mound on the corner of Gita's desk after her research.
Sana arranged the strawberries in a colourful mound on the serving platter.
文法句型
a mound of + noun
用法筆記
Typically used for objects or food that are loosely gathered rather than tightly packed. A mound is taller and rounder than a flat pile.
常見錯誤
3. The low hill of dirt at the centre of a baseball field where the pitcher stands
The low hill of dirt at the centre of a baseball field where the pitcher stands to send the ball toward the batter.
Andrés walked to the mound to take over the pitching in the ninth inning.
The coach visited the mound for a quick word with the pitcher.
baseball context: visit the mound
Fans cheered as the young pitcher stepped onto the mound for the first time.
After the game, the ground crew raked the pitcher's mound to keep it smooth.
文法句型
the mound
the pitcher's mound
用法筆記
Almost always used with a definite article (the mound) or as the compound noun pitcher's mound. The word refers specifically to baseball and is not used for other sports.
常見錯誤
mound — verb
1. To form a substance or collection of items into a raised, rounded shape, like a
To form a substance or collection of items into a raised, rounded shape, like a small hill.
Esme mounded the rice carefully onto each plate before adding the curry sauce.
mound + object + onto
Christopher mounded the soil around the young tomato plants to protect their roots.
The pastry chef mounded the whipped cream high on top of the chocolate cake.
Yuna mounded the fresh sheets into a neat pile at the end of the bed.
文法句型
mound + noun + onto/into/around
用法筆記
Frequently used in cooking or gardening contexts. The object is usually a soft or loose material (food, soil, sand, snow) that can hold a rounded shape.
2. To surround or protect a place by building a raised wall of earth or by putting
To surround or protect a place by building a raised wall of earth or by putting up a defensive fence or ridge.
The ancient settlement was mounded with thick earth walls to keep out invaders.
passive: be mounded with
In medieval times, villagers mounded their towns with stone and soil for protection.
The farmers mounded their fields with low earth banks to mark the property line.
Soldiers mounded the camp with a ring of packed earth before nightfall.
文法句型
mound + area + with + material
be mounded with
用法筆記
This is an older, less common sense. In modern English, 'fortify' or 'enclose' are more frequently used. The passive construction (be mounded with) is the most common form.