Mountain vs. Butte — What's the Difference?

A large natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level.

Formed by erosion, leaving a harder rock that resists weathering.

A place for recreational activities like hiking, skiing, and mountaineering.

An isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, flat top.

A habitat for a wide range of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Often serves as a landmark in flat landscapes.

Often characterized by rugged terrain and significant height differences.

Typically found in arid regions like deserts.

Holds significant cultural, spiritual, and practical importance.

Holds cultural significance in many indigenous cultures.

A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. A mountain differs from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is larger than a hill, typically rising at least 300 metres (1000 feet) above the surrounding land.

In geomorphology, a butte () is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; buttes are smaller landforms than mesas, plateaus, and tablelands. The word butte comes from a French word meaning knoll (but of any size); its use is prevalent in the Western United States, including the southwest where mesa (Spanish for "table") is used for the larger landform.

Abbr. Mt. or Mtn. A natural elevation of the earth's surface having considerable mass, generally steep sides, and a height greater than that of a hill.

An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top (similar to but narrower than a mesa).

A large heap

A hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding area and has sloping or vertical sides and a flat top.

A huge quantity

(US) An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top.

(countable) An elevation of land of considerable dimensions rising more or less abruptly, forming a conspicuous figure in the landscape, usually having a small extent of surface at its summit.

A detached low mountain, or high rising abruptly from the general level of the surrounding plain; - applied to peculiar elevations in the Rocky Mountain region.

(countable) Something very large in size or quantity; a huge amount; a great heap.

A hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding region; has a flat top and sloping sides

(figuratively) A difficult task or challenge.

A town in southwestern Montana; center for mining copper

Wine from Malaga made from grapes that grow on a mountain.

A woman's large breast.

(cartomancy) The twenty-first Lenormand card.

A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land; earth and rock forming an isolated peak or a ridge; an eminence higher than a hill; a mount.

A range, chain, or group of such elevations; as, the White Mountains.

A mountainlike mass; something of great bulk; a large quantity.

Of or pertaining to a mountain or mountains; growing or living on a mountain; found on or peculiar to mountains; among mountains; as, a mountain torrent; mountain pines; mountain goats; mountain air; mountain howitzer.

Like a mountain; mountainous; vast; very great.

A land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

A large number or amount;

Relating to or located in mountains;

Mountains are formed by tectonic forces or volcanism, while buttes are formed through erosion.

Buttes can support specialized flora and fauna adapted to arid environments but do not usually have the extensive biodiversity found in mountainous regions.

Buttes typically form in flat or gently undulating terrains and are not commonly found in mountainous areas.

Vegetation on mountains varies with altitude, ranging from forests at lower elevations to grasslands and bare rock at higher elevations.

Mountains can significantly affect local and regional climates, often blocking rain, creating microclimates, and influencing temperature patterns.

Buttes can be popular for hiking and rock climbing, particularly in scenic areas.

Common activities include hiking, mountaineering, skiing, and rock climbing.

Erosion from wind and water removes softer rock layers over time, leaving behind harder rock that forms the steep sides and flat top of a butte.

Mountains are crucial for biodiversity, providing habitat for numerous species and acting as water sources for rivers and watersheds.

While most commonly found in arid environments, buttes can occasionally be seen in other landscapes due to unique geological conditions.

Both are elevated landforms and can serve as significant natural landmarks.

Mountains play a critical role in the water cycle, influencing rainfall patterns and serving as sources for many of the world’s major rivers.

Both are popular subjects in visual arts, symbolizing majesty and solitude, respectively.

Buttes stand out in flat landscapes, making them important navigational and visual landmarks.

Generally, mountains have broader cultural, spiritual, and practical significance, though buttes also hold cultural importance in specific regions.