Mount

Mount is a versatile English word that can function as a noun and a verb in many domains. It derives from Old French monter, from Latin mont- meaning mountain, with senses extending to ascent, attachment, and display.

As a verb, mount most commonly means to go up or climb onto something (mount a horse; mount a staircase). It also means to fix or secure something on a supporting structure (mount a sign on a wall) or to organize or prepare something for display or presentation (mount slides for microscopy; mount a collection of documents).

As a noun, mount can denote a mountain or hill, particularly in place names (Mount Everest). It also refers to a support or base for displaying or attaching something, such as a picture mount, a camera mount, or a telescope mount. In computing, to mount a filesystem is to attach it to a directory tree, making its files accessible; the point where it is attached is called a mount point.

In microscopy and photography, mounting describes placing a specimen or image on a slide or frame with mounting medium or hardware. In everyday usage, a mount is an animal used for riding (a horse, mule, or camel).

The term is widely used across geography, technology, and the arts, and yields common phrases such as mounting hardware, mount point, and mounting media.