Deer

/dɪə/ · noun

Meaning

(countable) A ruminant mammal with hooves and often antlers, of the family Cervidae, or one of several similar animals from related families of the order Artiodactyla, such as the musk deer or mouse deer..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable) A ruminant mammal with hooves and often antlers, of the family Cervidae, or one of several similar animals from related families of the order Artiodactyla, such as the musk deer or mouse deer.
2. (uncountable) The meat of such an animal, obtained through the process of hunting or from specialized deer farms; venison.
3. (countable, puristic, otherwise obsolete or archaic) Any animal, especially a quadrupedal mammal as opposed to a bird, fish, etc.

Example Sentences

Deer sperm was in used among the Romans as an aphrodisiac.

Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus) The musk deer is unique in several ways, reflecting its taxonomic separation from other deer (Flerov, 1952). For example , they are the only deer to possess a gall bladder[…]

The Java deer Cervus timorensis is now widespread […] This deer has become rather uncommon as the lowlands have been converted to rice and sugarcane, and the hills to coffee and other crops, while the smaller muntjac deer Muntiacus muntjak has persisted in many areas where there is some forest cover. The third and smallest deer on Java and Bali is the mouse deer Tragulus javanicus.

I'd never had deer before I ate dinner with the Johanssens. In time I learned to like it; its gaminess is an acquired taste.

But mice and rats and such small deer, have been Tom's food for seven long year.

Synonyms for deer

Antonyms for deer

Related Words

Word Forms

• deer
• deers

Usage Notes

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