antler
Americannoun
-
antlers
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of antler
1350–1400; Middle English aunteler < Middle French antoillier < Vulgar Latin *anteoculārem ( rāmum ), accusative singular of *anteoculāris ( rāmus ) anteocular (branch of a stag's horn). See ante-, ocular
Explanation
An antler is one of a pair of horns that belong to most members of the deer family. An antler is usually curved and has branches. Antlers come in pairs: there are two antlers coming out of a deer’s head. Antlers are branched like a tree limb, and some are very long and large. The elk is an animal with impressive antlers. Antlers look intimidating and can be used as a weapon by the deer when head-butting. Only the males have antlers in most species.
Vocabulary lists containing antler
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: ante, anti
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Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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Animals (Zoology) - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A group of people were gathered around a large dining table beneath a massive chandelier of antler, a tableau that evoked some kind of Viking summit.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
Boxgrove has been extensively excavated, and researchers have uncovered many tools made from flint, bone and antler there.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
The antler and bone finds were discovered in Ipswich, Suffolk, during 40 excavations over the course of 20 years.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2024
The spree continued in August and September of 2021, including the shooting of a trophy-size bull elk with seven antler points on each side of its head on Sept. 30.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2023
He let the little boy run his fingers across the handle, which was carved from an elk’s antler.
From "I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" by Lauren Tarshis
The July full Moon gets its name from the time of year when male deer, or bucks, rapidly grow a new set of antlers.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
“Science class starts… NOW!” the company posted on Facebook, noting that a moose has 6-foot antlers “for defending territory,” while a beaver has a flat tail “for slapping water.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
According to reports, the mother and son were in the woods collecting antlers during the stag shedding season.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
The space is dimly lit and always packed, with wood-paneled walls, mounted antlers, and crisp white tablecloths setting the tone.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026
His antlers are threaded with a few thin cobwebs, and his coat is a white so bright that it seems silver in the afternoon light.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
