deer — English Dictionary

Noun

1. 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.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Broader terms

   ungulatemammalvertebrateanimalorganismcreature

   Examples

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

   More examples (2)

   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.

2. 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. Such a mammal that is in the family Cervidae.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in particular

   Synonyms

   true deercervidcervine

   Examples

   Nara and its deer are so closely associated that the light-brown colored animals are pictured in the city’s tourism ads, on buses, train tickets and more.

3. 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. Such a mammal that is in the family Cervidae. One of the smaller animals of the family Cervidae, distinguished from a moose or elk.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in particular

   Examples

   I wrecked my car after a deer ran across the road.

   Sure, most of us hunt deer around here, but not many of us have ever hunted moose.

   More examples (1)

   In the space beyond that, Rose saw a deer, with abbreviated velvet antlers and a cautious yet somehow also bored mien, considering her through dark, strangely human eyes.

4. The meat of such an animal, obtained through the process of hunting or from specialized deer farms; venison.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   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.

5. Any animal, especially a quadrupedal mammal as opposed to a bird, fish, etc.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

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

Noun

1. distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers

   Synonyms

   cervid

   Broader terms

   ruminant