mountainlike

Mountainlike is an adjective describing something that resembles a mountain in form, structure, or appearance. It can refer to landforms with pronounced relief, steep slopes, high elevation relative to surrounding terrain, or shapes that evoke a peak or ridge.

Derived from mountain and the suffix -like, it is used chiefly in descriptive, comparative, or qualitative contexts in geography, geomorphology, landscape architecture, and planetary science. The term is less common than mountainous or montane; it tends to emphasize specific visual similarity rather than overall classification as a mountain region.

In terrain descriptions, a hill with a rugged, isolated profile might be described as mountainlike. On planetary surfaces, craters with terraced walls and central peaks can appear mountainlike. A sculpture or architectural form may be described as mountainlike if it imitates peak shapes or ridge lines.

It is often hyphenated as mountain-like when used attributively in text. It should not be overused; "mountainous" or "mountain-shaped" might be more precise in many cases.

See also: mountain, mountain range, rugged terrain, relief, topography, geomorphology.