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whitetail deer

whitetail deer

1 2.4
A North American deer with a white tail that lifts when it is scared
  • noun
  • /ˈhwaɪtˌteɪl dɪr/
  • US
translation icon : ciervo de cola blanca
  • Hunters prepare for the season by studying the behavior of whitetail deer in their natural habitat.
  • whitetail deer hunting
  • whitetail deer population

Examples

  • These whitetail deer have a very bad reputation in our area as garden destroyers.

    Blog text (29)
  • Michigan's whitetail deer season allows hunters their first opportunity on October 1st.

    Blog text (8)
  • What better way to hunt whitetail deer than from a canoe?

    Blog text (5)
  • Sixty whitetail deer shared the meadows.

    Academic text (2001)
  • As a dual sportsman, I can harvest more whitetail deer in a season than I can catch red snapper.

    Blog text (2)
  • Beyond beavers, by 1890, a pre-Columbian whitetail deer population of perhaps 30 million had been reduced to an estimated 350,000.

    Blog text (8)
  • Ray Metzler, assistant chief of the Alabama Department of Conservation wildlife division, has reminded hunters that safety is a must as they look for whitetail deer, the most popular game in this hunting-crazy state.

    Blog text (21)
  • I mainly intended to use the gun for a couple of whitetail deer hunts at medium to close range and for occasional target shooting, so I didn't want to spend a bunch of money, but wanted a serviceable rifle that shot tight groups and was reliable and safe.

    Blog text (25)
  • In the fall, whitetail deer can often be seen moving through the woods in search of food.

  • During autumn, whitetail deer display their white-tail signals to warn others of potential danger.

Synonyms

whitetail
vswhitetail deer
  • US
5 3.7

A North American deer with a white underside to its tail that it shows when scared

is the two-word form used in general reference rather than single-word
white-tailed deer
vswhitetail deer
  • US
2 2.8

A North American deer with a white underside to its tail that it raises when scared

is the unhyphenated everyday form rather than the hyphenated one
white tail
vswhitetail deer
  • US
1 3.0

A deer with white fur under its tail

is the regular compound form used more commonly in writing
Odocoileus virginianus
vswhitetail deer
  • Specialized
9.9

A common North American deer with white under its tail

is the common English name used in everyday and general contexts
Virginia deer
vswhitetail deer
  • US
3.2

A common North American deer with a white underside to its tail

is the widely used descriptive name based on tail appearance rather than region

Surface Forms

whitetail deer singular

Morphology

whitetail + deer

The phrase denotes a deer characterized by a white tail, a meaning directly derivable from combining the constituents ('white' + 'tail' + 'deer' or 'whitetail' + 'deer'). This is a straightforward descriptive compound common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the component words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Whitetail deer: The name whitetail deer comes from the white underside of its tail, which the animal lifts like a small flag when it is scared. So people used the word 'whitetail' to name this deer because that bright tail is a clear sign.