hɪl n. & v. --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. øhill
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. [OE hyll]