reindeer
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɹeɪndɪə//
- United Kingdom//ˈɹɛjndɪː//
- United Kingdom//ˈɹɛjndɪjə//
- United States//ˈɹeɪndɪɹ//
- Australia//ˈɹæɪndɪə//
Any Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.
noun
- 1
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
Here is a prodigious number of wild beaſts, as ſtags, bears, wolves, foxes of various colours, martens, hares, glittens, beavers, otters, elk, and rein deer: the latter is leſs than a stag.
The rein-deer, which in Scandinavia can scarcely exist to the south of the sixty-fifth parallel, descends, in consequence of the greater coldness of the climate, to the fiftieth degree, in Chinese Tartary, and often roves into a country of more southern latitude than any part of England.
Herds of wandering reindeer are frequently seen, and may even hold up the train while they cross the unfenced line to reach their feeding grounds.
- 2
Any species, subspecies, ecotype, or other scientific grouping of such animals.
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.
verb
- 1
To herd or farm reindeer
Forms
- plural
- reindeers
- past tense
- reindeered
- past participle
- reindeered
- present participle
- reindeering
- third person singular
- reindeers
reindeer · Any Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.
reinforce · To strengthen, especially by addition or augmentation.reinforced · Having been or containing reinforcement.reins · The lower part of the back.