elk
Elk (noun) means a very large species of deer found across Europe and Asia, called a moose in North America. Example: “A bull elk waded into the lake to feed on water plants.”
How to use elk
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Word forms
elk plural, elks plural, Elks plural, Elks plural, Elks plural
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.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “elk” mean?
The word “elk” means a very large species of deer found across Europe and Asia, called a moose in North America.
How do you pronounce “elk”?
“Elk” is pronounced ehlk (/ɛlk/ in IPA).
How do you use “elk” in a sentence?
Here is “elk” used in a sentence: “A bull elk waded into the lake to feed on water plants.”
What is another word for “elk”?
Words with a similar meaning to “elk” include alce.
What part of speech is “elk”?
“Elk” is a noun.
Where does the word “elk” come from?
The word “elk” comes from Old English. From Old English eolh, going back to a very old Germanic and Indo-European word for a deer-like animal.
Is “elk” a common word?
“Elk” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “elk” have?
“Elk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very large species of deer found across Europe and Asia, called a moose in North America.
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