# mount

/ˈmaʊnt/ (US) · /mˈaʊnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mount
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to increase

verb · CEFR B2

to gradually increase in amount, size, or intensity.

For teachers: to increase in amount, number, or intensity over a period of time. Often used with 'up' as an intransitive phrasal verb.

- The costs of the house repairs began to mount up quickly.
- Pressure on the government began to mount as more evidence of the scandal was leaked to the press.

### 2. to organize or launch

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to organize and begin an activity, such as a search, a protest, or a challenge.

For teachers: to organize and initiate a campaign, challenge, or large-scale effort. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The local community decided to mount a protest against the new road.
- The opposition party is preparing to mount a legal challenge against the recent changes to the voting laws.

### 3. to climb onto

verb · CEFR B2

to get onto something high, like a horse, a bicycle, or a platform.

For teachers: to ascend or get onto a raised surface, animal, or vehicle. Transitive in modern usage.

- She watched the rider mount his horse and gallop away.
- The speaker had to mount the podium twice because the microphone was not working during the first attempt.

### 4. to attach or fix

verb · CEFR B2

to fix something firmly onto a support, like a picture on a wall.

For teachers: to fix an object securely onto a support, backing, or frame for display or use.

- We decided to mount the television on the wall to save space.
- The specimen was carefully mounted on a glass slide for examination under the microscope.

### 5. to make a drive available

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to make a disk or drive ready for a computer to use.

For teachers: to make a storage device or file system available for use by the operating system.

- The computer failed to mount the external hard drive.
- The system administrator had to manually mount the network drive after the server rebooted.

### 6. to add fat to a sauce

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to whisk cold butter or fat into a sauce at the end to make it thick and shiny.

For teachers: to whisk cold butter or cream into a sauce just before serving to add shine and body. Derived from the French 'monter'.

- Mount the sauce with a few cubes of cold butter for a glossy finish.
- The chef instructed the apprentice to mount the reduction with chilled butter to achieve the desired velvety texture.

### 7. a mountain

noun · CEFR B1

a mountain or a high hill — often used in names.

For teachers: a mountain or hill. Frequently used as a title before a specific name.

- They plan to climb Mount Everest next spring.
- The monastery was built on the slopes of a remote mount, accessible only by a narrow stone path.

### 8. an animal for riding

noun · CEFR B2

an animal, usually a horse, that you ride.

For teachers: an animal, typically a horse, used for riding or as a means of transport.

- The knight led his mount to the water for a drink.
- The cavalry officer checked his mount's shoes before the long journey across the rugged terrain.

## Examples

- The pressure began to mount as the deadline approached.
- Engineers had to mount the new sensors onto the engine block before the test flight could begin.
- As evidence of the environmental impact continued to mount, the government was eventually forced to reconsider its stance on the proposed industrial expansion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.