noun
elk
ehlk
noun
1
A very large species of deer found across Europe and Asia, called a moose in North America.
"A bull elk waded into the lake to feed on water plants."
2
In North American usage, the wapiti — a large deer related to but distinct from the moose.
"Herds of elk graze in the meadows of Yellowstone every summer."
How to Use Elk
Learner’s notes
UK vs US
In British English "elk" usually means the animal Americans call a moose; in American English "elk" instead refers to the wapiti, a different, somewhat smaller deer.
Common pairings
a herd of elk
bull elk
elk antlers
Word Forms
elk plural, elks plural, Elks plural, Elks plural, Elks plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “elk”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A bull _____ waded into the lake to feed on water plants.
Etymology
From Old English eolh, going back to a very old Germanic and Indo-European word for a deer-like animal.