English Reference

Word

marilyn

Phoneticsmar·i·lyn

/ˈmɛɹəɫən/

Definitions

01a hill or mountain

C2

n. a hill or mountain in the UK or Ireland that is at least 150 metres higher than the land around it.

n. a hill or mountain in the British Isles with a prominence (relative height) of at least 150 metres, regardless of its absolute altitude.

“He spent his summer holiday trying to climb every Marilyn in the local area.”

“The peak is classified as a Marilyn because its relative height exceeds 150 metres, even though its total elevation is quite modest compared to the Highlands.”

British English · Technical

Usage

The term is a pun on the name of the actress Marilyn Monroe, contrasting with 'Munro' (a higher Scottish mountain).

Teaching tip

This is a very niche term used by hikers and geographers in the UK. Most English speakers will only know 'Marilyn' as a person's name.

Synonyms

02female name

A1

n. a common female first name.

n. a female given name, famously associated with the American actress Marilyn Monroe.

“Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous movie stars in history.”

“The name Marilyn reached its peak popularity in the mid-twentieth century, largely due to the influence of Hollywood icons.”

Usage

Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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