Word
antler
US/ˈæntɫɝ/
UK/ˈæntlɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a large, branching horn on the head of a male deer, elk, or moose. They fall off and grow back every year.
n. a branched bony growth on the head of a deer, elk, moose, or related animal, typically borne by males and shed annually. Distinguished from true horns by its branching shape and yearly regrowth.
Examples
“The deer has tall antlers on its head.”
“The hiker found a fallen antler on the forest trail and left it for the rangers to record.”
“The museum displayed a massive elk antler whose span and weight illustrated both the animal's age and the nutritional richness of its habitat.”
Examples
simple
“The deer has tall antlers on its head.”
contextual
“The hiker found a fallen antler on the forest trail and left it for the rangers to record.”
complex
“The museum displayed a massive elk antler whose span and weight illustrated both the animal's age and the nutritional richness of its habitat.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “antler” in context.
Verb
01. antler falls
“The antler falls off naturally once mating season ends.”
noun + verb
02. antler grows
“The antler grows quickly during the summer months.”
noun + verb
03. antler regrows
“Each spring, the antler regrows larger than before.”
noun + verb
04. find antler
“Hikers often find shed antlers on mountain paths in April.”
verb + noun
05. grow antler
“The young stag began to grow new antlers in spring.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. branching antler
“A branching antler from the elk was displayed at the museum.”
adj + noun
07. broken antler
“The vet treated a deer with a broken antler after a fight.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. antler carving
“She bought a beautiful antler carving at the craft market.”
noun + noun
09. antler mount
“An antler mount hung above the fireplace in the lodge.”
noun + noun
10. antlers covered in soft velvet
“In spring, young antlers are covered in soft velvet.”
11. find a shed antler
“We found a shed antler while hiking in the national park.”
12. grow new antlers in spring
“Elk grow new antlers in spring after the old ones fall off.”
Real-World Examples
“The interior of its four-storey home, stuffed with historic playbills and vintage caricatures and gilded antlers, is little changed from the 19th century.” “High above Ustaoset (990m) and its ice-bound lake fringed with country cabins, a reindeer's antlers stood silhouetted against the piercing blue sky; Norway's biggest herd of wild reindeer, 10,000-strong, still roams free across Hardangervidda.” “In other caves, artists used cracks in the walls to complete the antlers of elk and ridges to suggest the dorsal lines of horses.” “The artefacts included an antler that would have been used for digging, and other carved animal bones, as well as finely decorated fragments of pottery.” Etymology
From Middle English auntelere, hauntelere, from Old French antoillier (“antler, horn”), from ante- (“in front of”) + oillier (oil (“eye”) + -ier (a suffix indicating location)), possibly from an unattested Latin *anteocularis (“before the eye”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/antler