—n.
1 a a naturally raised area of land, not as high as a mountain. b (as the hills) Anglo-Ind. = hill-station.
2 (often in comb.) a heap; a mound (anthill; dunghill).
3 a sloping piece of road.
—v.tr.
1 form into a hill.
2 (usu. foll. by up) bank up (plants) with soil.
Phrases and idioms:
hill and dale (of a gramophone record) with groove-undulations in a vertical plane. hill-billy (pl. -ies) US
1 colloq., often derog. a person from a remote rural area in a southern State (cf. HICK).
2 folk music of or like that of the southern US. hill climb a race for vehicles up a steep hill. hill-fort a fort built on a hill. hill-station Anglo-Ind. a government settlement, esp. for holidays etc. during the hot season, in the low mountains of N. India. old as the hills very ancient.
over the hill colloq.
1 past the prime of life; declining.
2 past the crisis. up hill and down dale see UP.
Etymology: OE hyll
Useful english dictionary. 2012.