/ dɪə(r); NAmE dɪr/ noun
( pl. deer ) an animal with long legs, that eats grass, leaves, etc. and can run fast. Most male deer have antlers (= horns shaped like branches). There are many types of deer :
a herd of deer
a deer park
—see also fallow deer , red deer , reindeer , roe deer , doe , fawn , stag
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English dēor , also originally denoting any four legged animal, used in the (now archaic) phrase small deer meaning small creatures collectively ; of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier , German Tier .