Definitions
- Describing an area with many mountains or large hills. - Referring to terrain that is rugged, steep, and difficult to traverse. - Talking about a place with high elevation and significant changes in altitude.
- Describing an area with many small hills or gentle slopes. - Referring to terrain that is undulating and has slight changes in elevation. - Talking about a place with rolling hills and valleys.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe the topography of an area.
- 2Both words refer to land that is not flat.
- 3Both words can be used to describe natural landscapes.
- 4Both words can be used to describe man-made structures, such as roads or buildings, that are built on uneven ground.
What is the difference?
- 1Size: Mountainous refers to larger landforms, while hilly refers to smaller ones.
- 2Elevation: Mountainous implies higher elevation and greater changes in altitude than hilly.
- 3Steepness: Mountainous implies steeper slopes and more rugged terrain than hilly.
- 4Difficulty: Mountainous terrain is generally more challenging to traverse than hilly terrain.
- 5Connotation: Mountainous has a grander and more awe-inspiring connotation than hilly, which is more gentle and pleasant.
Remember this!
Mountainous and hilly both describe non-flat terrain, but they differ in size, elevation, steepness, difficulty, and connotation. Mountainous refers to larger landforms with higher elevation, steeper slopes, and more rugged terrain, while hilly refers to smaller landforms with gentler slopes and undulating terrain. Mountainous has a grander and more challenging connotation, while hilly is more gentle and pleasant.
