Dictionary

caribou

noun car·i·bou \ˈker-ə-ˌbü, ˈka-rə-\

: a large type of deer that lives in northern parts of the world

plural car·i·bou or car·i·bous

Full Definition of CARIBOU

:  a large gregarious deer (Rangifer tarandus) of Holarctic taiga and tundra that usually has palmate antlers in both sexes —used especially for one of the New World —called also reindeer
ADVERTISEMENT

Illustration of CARIBOU

Origin of CARIBOU

Canadian French, from Micmac γalipu
First Known Use: circa 1665
CARIBOU Defined for Kids

caribou

noun car·i·bou \ˈker-ə-ˌbü\

Definition of CARIBOU for Kids

:  a large deer of northern and arctic regions that has antlers in both the male and female

Hint for CARIBOU

The word caribou is used especially to refer to these animals when they live in North America. The word reindeer is usually used for these animals when they live in Europe and Asia.
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears