mountainside

mountainside — noun

1. the sloping outer surface of a mountain, between the highest part and the bottom

1.nounB1
Definition

the sloping outer surface of a mountain, between the highest part and the bottom

Example

The hikers followed a narrow trail along the steep mountainside.

collocation: steep mountainside

Small white flowers grew on the rocky mountainside above the village.

Common collocations
  • steep mountainside
  • rocky mountainside
  • wooded mountainside
  • bare mountainside
  • mountainside trail
  • mountainside village
Synonyms
  • slope

    broader term; can refer to any inclined surface, not just a mountain

  • hillside

    refers to a smaller, lower elevation; 'mountainside' implies a larger, steeper landform

  • mountain face

    suggests a very steep, often vertical section, especially in climbing contexts

Grammar Patterns

the mountainside

on a mountainside

down/up the mountainside

Usage Note

Usually appears with the definite article ('the mountainside') or a possessive ('the eastern mountainside'). Often paired with a preposition (on, down, up, along) to describe position or movement.

Common Mistakes

We stayed in a cabin on the mountain side.
We stayed in a cabin on the mountainside.
'mountainside' is written as one word, not two separate words.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a slanted surface, but they differ in size and context. 'Mountainside' refers specifically to the outer sloping part of a large mountain, often used in scenic or travel descriptions. 'Slope' is the most general term and can apply to any angled surface, from a ski run to a garden hill. 'Hillside' is narrower in scale, referring to the side of a hill rather than a mountain. 'Mountain face' is a more dramatic term used in climbing to describe a steep, often vertical rock wall. 'Incline' is the most technical and neutral, used for any gradient regardless of size. For example: 'The hikers rested on the grassy mountainside' (specific to a mountain) vs. 'The car struggled up the steep incline' (any slope).

slopehillside ↗mountain faceincline ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • on the mountainside
  • down the mountainside
  • up the mountainside
  • along the mountainside

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglishOld English

'Mountainside' is a compound word formed by joining 'mountain' (from Latin 'montanus', meaning 'of a mountain', via Old French 'montaigne') with 'side' (from Old English 'sīde', meaning 'the flank or edge of something'). The compound has been used in English since at least the 16th century to describe the sloping outer part of a mountain.