reindeer

C2 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

Also spelled rein-deer

US /ˈɹeɪndɪɹ/ UK /ˈɹeɪndɪə/ See IPA manual

Freq #9313

Meanings

1

noun
Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes

Called `reindeer' in Eurasia and `caribou' in North America.
2

noun
Any Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.

Santa Claus' sleigh is supposedly pulled by nine reindeer.
3

noun
Any species, subspecies, ecotype, or other scientific grouping of such animals.
4

verb
To herd or farm reindeer

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · arctic deer with large... caribou

Word family

Derived forms carideer

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

reindeer moss
a pale branching lichen that serves as food for reindeer and caribou

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English reyndere, reynder, rayne-dere, from Old Norse hreindýri (“reindeer”), from hreinn (“reindeer”) + dýr (“animal”). Compare Dutch rendier (“reindeer”), German Rentier (“reindeer”), Swedish rendjur (“reindeer”), Danish rensdyr (“reindeer”) and French renne (“reindeer”). Related also to displaced Old English hrān (“reindeer”). Unrelated to rein.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

# reindeer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɹeɪndɪɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɹeɪndɪə/
**Frequency rank:** 9313

## Meanings
1. Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes
2. Any Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.
3. Any species, subspecies, ecotype, or other scientific grouping of such animals.
4. To herd or farm reindeer

## Examples
- Called `reindeer' in Eurasia and `caribou' in North America.
- Santa Claus' sleigh is supposedly pulled by nine reindeer.

## Derived Forms
- carideer

## Etymology
From Middle English reyndere, reynder, rayne-dere, from Old Norse hreindýri (“reindeer”), from hreinn (“reindeer”) + dýr (“animal”). Compare Dutch rendier (“reindeer”), German Rentier (“reindeer”), Swedish rendjur (“reindeer”), Danish rensdyr (“reindeer”) and French renne (“reindeer”). Related also to displaced Old English hrān (“reindeer”). Unrelated to rein.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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