How Do You Spell MOLEHILL?

Pronunciation: [mˈə͡ʊlhɪl] (IPA)

The word "molehill" can be spelled with either one or two "l's" - "molehill" or "mole-hill". The pronunciation remains the same regardless of the spelling variation. The IPA phonetic transcription for "molehill" is /ˈməʊlhɪl/, which represents the sounds "m" (bilabial nasal), "o" (mid-back rounded vowel), "l" (lateral approximant), "h" (voiceless glottal fricative), and "ɪl" (vowel-consonant cluster comprising of a high front unrounded vowel and a lateral approximant).

MOLEHILL Meaning and Definition

1. A molehill refers to a small mound or hill of earth that is created by moles while tunneling underground. This word is a compound of "mole," which is a small burrowing mammal, and "hill," which is an elevated landform. The molehill is a distinctive feature of a mole's subterranean activity and can typically be observed in areas where moles are inhabiting.

   The formation of a molehill occurs when a mole pushes the soil or dirt excavated from its tunnel system to the surface. These mounds can vary in size and shape, but they usually measure around 4 to 10 inches in diameter and stand several inches above the ground. The individual molehills within an area can appear scattered or clustered, depending on the activity and quantity of moles present.

   Molehills play a crucial role in the life of moles as they serve both as waste disposal sites and as markers for territorial boundaries. Moles dig complicated networks of tunnels underground to find insects, worms, and other small invertebrates for food. As they burrow, moles continually excavate soil and push it up to the surface, resulting in the construction of molehills.

   While molehills are generally considered a nuisance in gardens or lawns due to the potential disruption they cause to the landscape, they are also regarded as a natural sign of the mole's presence. Consequently, molehills are often used to identify areas where moles are active, enabling individuals to take appropriate measures for mole control or habitat modification.

Common Misspellings for MOLEHILL

• molehll
• molehil
• moelhill
• mouchill
• mollhill
• mollahill
• mollhil
• mohlhill
• mohlehill
• Moalhill
• MooteHill
• Motehil

Etymology of MOLEHILL

The word "molehill" is composed of two parts: "mole" and "hill".

The term "mole" can be traced back to Middle English, where it appeared as "mol", derived from the Old English word "māl". This word is ultimately derived from the Old High German word "māla", which means "spot" or "blemish". The term later evolved to refer specifically to the small burrowing mammal known as a mole, known for digging and creating small mounds or hills as part of its burrowing behavior.

The term "hill" is a noun that refers to a naturally raised area of land, rounded or not, that is typically lower or smaller than a mountain. Its etymology traces back to Old English as "hyll", which also indirectly shares its roots with the Proto-Germanic word "hulnis", meaning "down" or "slope".

Idioms with the word MOLEHILL

• make a mountain out of a molehill The idiom "make a mountain out of a molehill" means to exaggerate or make a minor issue seem much larger or more significant than it actually is. It refers to blowing a small problem out of proportion and making it seem much more significant or difficult than it really is.

Plural form of MOLEHILL is MOLEHILLS