915
Mount Godwin Austen
which people drive too fast or too close to other cars on a
motorway in bad weather conditions, especially FOG: Ten die
in motorway madness.
Mo-town /'məʊtaʊn/ 1 trademark a US music record com-
pany, based in Detroit 2 a style of popular music called SOUL
MUSIC, performed by black musicians
Mot-son, John /'mɒtsɒn||'mɑːt-/ (1945-) a British football
COMMENTATOR (=someone who describes a sports event
while it is happening) on BBC television, known for his
knowledge of facts about football, games, and players
mot-tled /'mɒtld||'mɑː-/ adj having irregularly-shaped
different-coloured markings: mottled skin
mot-to /'mɒtəʊ||'mɑː-/ n pl. -tos or -toes 1 a short sentence
or a few words taken as the guiding principle of a person, of
a school etc: 'Waste not, want not' was my mother's motto, | a
school motto → compare SLOGAN 2 especially BrE an amusing
or clever short printed phrase put especially inside a CHRIST-
MAS CRACKER 3 a few words, or a short musical phrase,
placed at the beginning of a book, or of a piece of music
mould¹ || also mold AmE /məʊld/ n [U] 1 a soft greenish
growth on bread, cheese etc, that has been kept too long, or
on objects that have been left for a long time in warm wet
air 2 (often in comb.) loose soft soil full of decayed plant
substances: He planted the seeds in a box filled with leaf
mould.
mould² || also mold AmE — n 1 a hollow container of a
particular shape, into which some soft substance is poured,
so that when the substance becomes cool or hard, it takes
this shape: a jelly mould shaped like a rabbit | a candle
mould 2 break the mould/mold to do something in a way
that is new, different, and better than usual: In the sixties,
bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who really
broke the mould. | There are always some risks in breaking the
mold and introducing a new style to a long-established publi-
cation, but for the Los Angeles Times it has been the right
decision | mould-breaking/mold-breaking The winners of
the Blue Ribbon Education Awards displayed many of the
qualities that will be necessary for the mold-breaking schools
of the future. 3 lit a person's character or type: We need to
recruit more men of his mould.
mould³ || also mold AmE — v [T] 1 to make out of a material
by changing its shape: These huge presses mould the car
bodies. | a figure of a man moulded in/out of clay | (fig.) His
character has been moulded more by his experiences in life
than by his education. 2 to fit closely to the shape of
something, especially a body: Her wet dress was moulded to
her body.
moul-der || also molder AmE /'məʊldə/ v [I (AWAY)] often lit to
decay slowly: the mouldering walls of an ancient ruin | (fig.)
The plans mouldered away in a forgotten corner of the office.
(=they were never put into practice)
mould-ing || also molding AmE /'məʊldɪŋ/ n 1 [C;U] a
decorative band of stone or wood round the edge of a wall, a
piece of furniture, a picture frame etc 2 [C] an object, such
as a piece of plastic, produced from a MOULD
mould-y || also moldy AmE /'məʊldi/ adj 1 of or covered with
MOULD: mouldy cheese | a mouldy smell inside the cup-
board 2 BrE slang of little value; unpleasant: Our mouldy old
uncle won't let us play in his garden. | Only a mouldy five
pounds for all that work? 3 AmE out of date; OBSOLETE; no
longer interesting or useful: That radio station only plays oldy
but moldies. (=old songs no longer appreciated) —iness n
[U]
Mou-lin Rouge, the /ˌmulæŋ 'ru:3/ a CABARET in the
Montmartre area of Paris, famous especially in the 19th
century for its CANCAN dancers
moult¹ || also molt AmE /məʊlt/ v [I;T] (of a bird or animal) to
lose or throw off (most of its feathers, hair, or fur) at the
season when a new covering for the body grows
moult² || also molt AmE — n [C;U] the process or time of
moulting
mound /maʊnd/ n [(of)] 1 a pile of earth, stones etc, often
one built in ancient times as a defence or over a grave; small
hill: a burial mound 2 a large pile: a mound of papers on my
desk 3 the small hill on which the PITCHER in the game of
BASEBALL stands: Lasorda walked slowly out to the mound to
talk to the pitcher.
Mounds /maʊndz/ trademark a type of chocolate bar in the US
which is made from COCONUT
mount¹ /maʊnt/ v 1 [I;T] rather fml to get on (a horse, a bicycle
etc): The soldiers stood beside their horses, waiting for the
order to mount. | He mounted his bicycle and rode away. →
opposite DISMOUNT 2 [T(on)] to provide (someone) with
something to ride on, especially a horse: The soldiers were
mounted on (=rode) fine black horses. | the mounted
police 3 [I(UP)] to rise in level or increase in amount: Tension
mounted as we waited for the decision. | Their debts continued
to mount up. 4 [T] to prepare and produce (an attack): The
opposition is getting ready to mount a powerful attack on the
government. | They have too weak a team to mount a realistic
challenge for the championship. 5 [I(to);T] fml to go up; climb:
The old lady mounted the stairs with difficulty. 6 [T] to fix on
a support or in a frame: The dead insect was mounted on a
card by means of a pin. 7 [T] tech (of a male animal, espe-
cially a large one) to get up on (a female animal) in order to
breed 8 mount guard (over) to guard, especially as a mili-
tary duty 9 mount the throne fml to become king, queen etc
mount² n 1 something on which or in which a thing is fixed
and supported: A silver cup on a wooden mount was presented
to the winner. 2 an animal on which one rides: This old
donkey is a good quiet mount for a child.
mount³ n old use, or (cap.) as part of a name a mountain: Mount
Teide, Tenerife
moun-tain /'maʊntɪn||'maʊntən/ n 1 a very high hill, usu-
ally of bare or snow-covered rock: He looked down from the
top of the mountain to the valley far below. | a mountain
chain/range (=line of mountains) | the mountain
peaks 2 [(of)] also mountains pl— a very large amount:
mountains/a mountain of dirty clothes to wash 3 BrE (usually in
comb.) a very large amount (of a food) that is stored to
prevent prices falling: the European Community's butter
mountain → compare LAKE¹ 4 make a mountain out of a
molehill to make a matter or problem seem much more
important or difficult than it really is
'mountain bike also 'mountain bicycle n a strong
bicycle with many GEARS, large wheels with wide tyres, and
powerful BRAKES which is used especially on rough and hilly
ground. Mountain bikes became very fashionable in the late
1980s and were bought by many people who only ever rode
them in towns.
Mountain 'Daylight Time abbrev. MDT the time used in
the summer months in the Mountain Time Zone of the US
moun-tain-eer /ˌmaʊntɪ'nɪə||-tən'ɪər/ n a person who
climbs mountains as a sport or profession —ing n [U]
'mountain lion n a COUGAR
moun-tain-ous /'maʊntɪnəs||-tənəs/ adj 1 full of moun-
tains: mountainous country 2 very large or high: mountain-
ous waves
mountain 'rescue n an attempt to find help, or save
people lost or hurt while in the mountains: A mountain
rescue team has been sent out to find the missing climbers.
moun-tain-side /'maʊntnsaɪd||-tən-/ n [C usually sing.] the
slope of a mountain: The great rocks rolled down the
mountainside.
Mountain 'Standard Time abbrev. MST the time used
from autumn to spring in the Rocky Mountain area of North
America (the Mountain Time Zone)
moun-tain-top /'maʊntɪntɒp||-təntɑ:p/ n the top of a
mountain → see also PEAK, SUMMIT
Mount Ararat → see ARARAT
Mount-bat-ten, Lou-is /maʊnt'bætən, 'lu:i:/ (1900-79) a
British politician and military leader, also known as Earl
Mountbatten of Burma. He had several important military
positions during World War II, and he led the Allied forces
against Japan in southeast Asia. In 1947 he became the last
VICEROY (=British governor) of India before its independ-
ence, and later he became the chief commander of the
British navy. He was killed by Irish TERRORISTS.
moun-te-bank /'maʊntɪbæŋk/ n lit derog a dishonest, dis-
honourable, or deceiving man
Mount Etna → see ETNA
Mount Everest → see EVEREST
Mount God-win Aus-ten → see GODWIN AUSTIN, MOUNT
M