deers

Noun

deer (countable and uncountable, plural deer or (dated or nonstandard; occasionally used in the sense of more than one species) deers)

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.
   • Deer sperm was in used among the Romans as an aphrodisiac.1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 227
   1. (countable) Such a mammal that is in the family Cervidae.
      • 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.2024 July 23, Lilit Marcus, “Japan may be sick of mass tourism. But the deer in this ancient UNESCO-listed city love it”, in CNN, archived from the original on 29 Aug 2024
   2. (countable) One of the smaller animals of the family Cervidae, distinguished from a moose or elk.
      • I wrecked my car after a deer ran across the road.
2. (uncountable) The meat of such an animal, obtained through the process of hunting or from specialized deer farms; venison.
   • 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.
3. (countable, otherwise obsolete or archaic) Any animal, especially a quadrupedal mammal as opposed to a bird, fish, etc.
   • But mice and rats and such small deer, have been Tom's food for seven long year.1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act III, scene IV

See all 8 meanings of deer