noun
caribou
KAIR-ih-boo/ˈkærɪbuː/
A North American reindeer, typically wild and migratory.
The caribou stands on broad hooves in the snowy tundra.
Etymology
The French name is traced to Mi'kmaq kaleboo or a related Algonquian name meaning “pawer, scratcher.” This describes the animal kicking snow aside to feed on moss and grass.
In context
their antlers make them look like males but caribou are the only species of deer in which both sexes grow horns
More examples
- The herd of caribou moved toward its summer range.
- We watched caribou from a distant overlook.
- The caribou’s broad hooves left tracks in the snow.
Forms
caribou · caribous