deer

[ deer ]

noun

, plural deer, (occasionally) deers.

1. any of several ruminants of the family Cervidae, most of the males of which have solid, deciduous antlers.
2. any of the smaller species of this family, as distinguished from the moose, elk, etc.

deer

/ dɪə /

noun

1. any ruminant artiodactyl mammal of the family Cervidae, including reindeer, elk, muntjacs, and roe deer, typically having antlers in the male cervine
2. (in N Canada) another name for caribou

Word History and Origins

Origin of deer¹

before 900; Middle English der, Old English dēor beast; akin to Gothic dius beast, Old High German tior

Word History and Origins

Origin of deer¹

Old English dēor beast; related to Old High German tior wild beast, Old Norse dӯr

Example Sentences

And with nothing else to do but sip beer, they talked late into the night, occasionally visited by deer that wandered down from the mountains.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is especially important in Richmond Park and Bushy Park which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest and where wild deer roam freely."

From BBC

“I was not a deer in headlights,” he told me.

From Los Angeles Times

Dead animals littered the side of the road; deer, raccoons, something that looked like a purple jackal, a Chupacabra or two, what looked like a werewolf, and at least one low-flying turkey vulture.

From Salon

He was basically trapped by human development, Pratt said, but there were plenty of deer there attracted by the many human-made “celebrity gardens” in the homes around the park.

From Los Angeles Times