Main Entry: deer

Pronunciation: \ˈdir\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural deer also deers

Etymology: Middle English, deer, animal, from Old English dēor beast; akin to Old High German tior wild animal, Lithuanian dvasia breath, spirit

Date: before 12th century

1 archaic : animal; especially : a small mammal
2 : any of numerous slender-legged ruminant mammals (family Cervidae, the deer family) having usually brownish fur and antlers borne by the males of nearly all and by the females of a few forms

— deer·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective