mound

A small hill or a rounded pile of earth, stones, or similar material.

• A small mound stood behind the house.
• They piled the soil into a mound.
• Ancient burial mounds covered the hillside.

How to use it: a mound of something (A mound of sand blocked the path.)

Similar words: heap, pile, hillock

Common phrases: mound of earth, burial mound, small mound

The raised area of earth where a baseball player stands to throw the ball to the batter.

• The pitcher walked to the mound.
• The coach joined him on the mound.
• Who will take the mound in tomorrow's game?

Similar words: pitcher's mound

Common phrases: pitcher's mound, on the mound, take the mound

A large amount of something, often arranged in a pile.

• She served a mound of rice.
• Mounds of dirty laundry filled the room.
• There's a huge mound of paperwork on my desk.

How to use it: a mound of something (He faced a mound of paperwork.)

Similar words: heap, pile, mountain

Common phrases: mound of rice, mound of paperwork, huge mound

To put something into a rounded pile or small hill.

• Mound the rice in the centre.
• She mounded earth around the young plants.
• The soil was mounded into low hills.

How to use it: mound something around something (Mound the soil around the base of the plant.)

Similar words: heap, pile up

Common phrases: mound up soil, mound the earth, mound rice