noun
Uncommon
elk
ehlk
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.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- elks
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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