Any of various hoofed ruminant mammals of the family Cervidae, characteristically having deciduous antlers borne chiefly by the males The deer family includes the white-tailed deer, elk, moose, and caribou, distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers, A term loosely applied to the chevrotains, of the family Tragulid‘ (which see), from their resemblance to musk-deer