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family Cervidae

family Cervidae

1 7.2
A family of animals that includes deer like moose and reindeer
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˈsɜrvɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: familia Cervidae
  • The family Cervidae encompasses all true deer species, including moose and reindeer.

Examples

  • The family Cervidae includes well-known species such as moose, elk, and reindeer.

  • Muntjacs, which belong to the family Cervidae, are native to parts of Asia.

  • Biologists study the antler growth in various members of the family Cervidae.

  • The family Cervidae includes various species of deer.

  • Many animals in the family Cervidae are known for their antlers.

  • Research on the family Cervidae reveals fascinating insights about their social behaviors.

  • Members of the family Cervidae can be found in various habitats around the world.

Synonyms

Cervidae
vsfamily Cervidae
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A group of animals that includes deer such as reindeer and moose

lists specific common members rather than saying all types

Surface Forms

Morphology

family + Cervidae

The meaning is directly and literally compositional: 'family' (a taxonomic grouping) combined with the proper taxonomic name 'Cervidae' yields the biological family of deer. This follows standard scientific naming conventions that are cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Family Cervidae comes from the Latin word cervus, which means 'deer'. People added the common ending -idae to make a group name, so family Cervidae simply means 'the deer family'.