Buck vs. Ram: What's the Difference?
By Harlon Moss & Janet White || Updated on May 20, 2024
A buck is a male deer known for its antlers, whereas a ram is a male sheep recognized for its curved horns.
Key Differences
A buck is a term used to refer to a male deer. Bucks are typically known for their antlers, which they shed and regrow annually. These antlers are used during mating season to compete with other bucks for the attention of females. A ram, on the other hand, is a male sheep. Rams are distinguished by their large, curved horns, which they use in battles with other rams to establish dominance within the flock. Unlike deer antlers, ram horns do not shed annually and continue to grow throughout the animal's life.
Bucks are usually found in forests, grasslands, and regions with abundant vegetation. They are solitary animals or live in small groups. Rams are generally found in hilly or mountainous terrains and are often part of larger flocks of sheep.
During mating season, bucks engage in fierce battles using their antlers, while rams clash with their horns to assert dominance and win over females. The breeding behavior and social dynamics of these animals are heavily influenced by their physical attributes.
Bucks are agile and fast runners, capable of jumping great distances to evade predators. Rams, while also agile, rely more on their strength and the protection of their flock to defend against threats. Their physical adaptations are well-suited to their respective environments and survival strategies.
Comparison Chart
Species
Deer
Sheep
ADVERTISEMENT
Distinguishing Feature
Antlers
Curved horns
Habitat
Forests and grasslands
Hilly or mountainous terrains
Social Structure
Solitary or small groups
Part of larger flocks
Defense Mechanism
Agility and speed
Strength and flock protection
Buck and Ram Definitions
Buck
A male deer, especially an adult.
The buck darted through the forest at dawn.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ram
A memory module in computing (Random Access Memory).
The computer needed more RAM to run the software efficiently.
Buck
To resist or oppose something.
She decided to buck the trend and start her own business.
Ram
A hydraulic device for lifting or pressing.
The hydraulic ram was essential for the construction project.
Buck
A male deer.
Ram
Digital memory hardware in which information can be accessed in any order with equal speed.
Buck
The male of various other mammals, such as antelopes, kangaroos, mice, or rabbits.
Ram
A male sheep.
Buck
Antelope considered as a group
A herd of buck.
Ram
A battering ram.
Buck
A robust or high-spirited young man.
Ram
The weight that drops in a pile driver or steam hammer.
Buck
A fop.
Ram
The plunger or piston of a force pump or hydraulic press.
Buck
(Offensive) A Native American or black man.
Ram
A hydraulic ram.
Buck
An act or instance of bucking
A horse that unseated its rider on the first buck.
Ram
A projection on the prow of a warship, used to batter or cut into enemy vessels.
Buck
Buckskin.
Ram
A ship having such a projection.
Buck
Bucks Buckskin breeches or shoes.
Ram
Ram See Aries.
Buck
A sawhorse or sawbuck.
Ram
To strike or drive against with a heavy impact; butt
Rammed the door with a sledgehammer until it broke open.
Buck
A leather-covered frame used for gymnastic vaulting.
Ram
To force or press into place.
Buck
(Informal) A dollar.
Ram
To cram; stuff
Rammed the clothes into the suitcase.
Buck
(Informal) An amount of money
Working overtime to make an extra buck.
Ram
To force passage or acceptance of
Rammed the project through the city council despite local opposition.
Buck
A large round amount of currency, especially a hundred dollars.
Ram
A male sheep, typically uncastrated.
Buck
A hundred of some other units, especially miles per hour or pounds
Was doing a buck twenty out on the Interstate.
A boxer weighing in at a buck fifty.
Ram
A battering ram; a heavy object used for breaking through doors.
Buck
(Games) A counter or marker formerly passed from one poker player to another to indicate an obligation, especially one's turn to deal.
Ram
A warship intended to sink other ships by ramming them.
Buck
(Informal) Obligation to account for something; responsibility
Tried to pass the buck for the failure to his boss.
Ram
A reinforced section of the bow of a warship, intended to be used for ramming other ships.
Buck
To leap upward while arching the back
The horse bucked in fright.
Ram
A piston powered by hydraulic pressure.
Buck
To charge with the head lowered; butt.
Ram
An act of ramming.
Buck
To make sudden jerky movements; jolt
The motor bucked and lurched before it finally ran smoothly.
Ram
A weight which strikes a blow, in a ramming device such as a pile driver, steam hammer, or stamp mill.
Buck
To resist stubbornly and obstinately; balk.
Ram
(ambitransitive) To collide with (an object), usually with the intention of damaging it or disabling its function.
The man, driving an SUV, then rammed the gate, according to police.
[http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/12/29/snatch-thieves-rammed-by-victim-accidentally/ Two snatch thieves who snatched a woman's bag experienced swift karma when their victim accidentally rammed into their motorcycle.]
Buck
(Informal) To strive with determination
Bucking for a promotion.
Ram
(transitive) To strike (something) hard, especially with an implement.
To build a sturdy fence, you have to ram the posts deep into the ground.
Buck
To throw or toss by bucking
Buck off a rider.
Bucked the packsaddle off its back.
Ram
(transitive) To seat a cartridge, projectile, or propellant charge in the breech of a firearm by pushing or striking.
After placing the cartridge in the musket, ram it down securely with the ramrod.
Buck
To oppose directly and stubbornly; go against
“Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country, is bucking the trend” (American Demographics).
Ram
(transitive) To fill or compact by pounding or driving.
Rammed earth walls
Buck
(Football) To charge into (an opponent's line) carrying the ball.
Ram
(slang) To thrust during sexual intercourse.
Buck
To butt against with the head.
Ram
(Northern England) rancid; offensive in smell or taste.
Buck
To pass (a task or duty) to another, especially so as to avoid responsibility
"We will see the stifling of initiative and the increased bucking of decisions to the top" (Winston Lord).
Ram
The male of the sheep and allied animals. In some parts of England a ram is called a tup.
Buck
Of the lowest rank in a specified military category
A buck private.
A buck sergeant.
Ram
Aries, the sign of the zodiac which the sun enters about the 21st of March.
Buck
A male deer, antelope, sheep, goat, rabbit, hare, and sometimes the male of other animals such as the hamster, ferret and shad.
Ram
An engine of war used for butting or battering.
Buck
(US) An uncastrated sheep, a ram.
Ram
A hydraulic ram. See under Hydraulic.
Buck
A young buck; an adventurous, impetuous, dashing, or high-spirited young man.
Ram
The weight which strikes the blow, in a pile driver, steam hammer, stamp mill, or the like.
Buck
A fop or dandy.
Ram
The plunger of a hydraulic press.
Buck
A black or Native American man.
Ram
To butt or strike against; to drive a ram against or through; to thrust or drive with violence; to force in; to drive together; to cram; as, to ram an enemy's vessel; to ram piles, cartridges, etc.
[They] rammed me in with foul shirts, and smocks, socks, foul stockings, greasy napkins.
Buck
A unit of a particular currency
Ram
To fill or compact by pounding or driving.
A ditch . . . was filled with some sound materials, and rammed to make the foundation solid.
Buck
A dollar (one hundred cents).
Can I borrow five bucks?
Ram
The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
Buck
A rand (currency unit).
Ram
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Aries
Buck
A euro.
Ram
The first sign of the zodiac which the sun enters at the vernal equinox; the sun is in this sign from about March 21 to April 19
Buck
Money.
Corporations will do anything to make a buck.
Ram
A tool for driving or forcing something by impact
Buck
(finance) One million dollars.
Ram
Uncastrated adult male sheep;
A British term is `tup'
Buck
One hundred.
The police caught me driving a buck forty [140 miles per hour] on the freeway.
That skinny guy? C'mon, he can't weigh more than a buck and a quarter [125 pounds].
Ram
Strike or drive against with a heavy impact;
Ram the gate with a sledgehammer
Pound on the door
Buck
Clipping of buckshot
He loaded the shotgun with two rounds of double-ought buck.
Ram
Force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically;
She rammed her mind into focus
He drives me mad
Buck
An implement the body of which is likened to a male sheep’s body due maintaining a stiff-legged position as if by stubbornness.
Ram
Undergo damage or destruction on impact;
The plane crashed into the ocean
The car crashed into the lamp post
Buck
The body of a post mill, particularly in East Anglia. See Wikipedia:Windmill machinery.
Ram
Crowd or pack to capacity;
The theater was jampacked
Buck
A frame on which firewood is sawed; a sawhorse; a sawbuck.
Ram
A male sheep, known for its large, curved horns.
The ram stood at the edge of the hill, surveying its flock.
Buck
A leather-covered frame used for gymnastic vaulting.
Ram
A device used to forcefully hit or push something.
The battering ram broke through the castle gates.
Buck
A wood or metal frame used by automotive customizers and restorers to assist in the shaping of sheet metal bodywork.
Ram
To forcefully drive into something.
The truck rammed into the barrier at high speed.
Buck
(dated) An object of various types, placed on a table to indicate turn or status; such as a brass object, placed in rotation on a US Navy wardroom dining table to indicate which officer is to be served first, or an item passed around a poker table indicating the dealer or placed in the pot to remind the winner of some privilege or obligation when his or her turn to deal next comes.
Buck
Synonym of buck dance.
Buck
Synonym of mule
Buck
A kind of large marble in children's games.
Buck
(Scotland) The beech tree.
Buck
Lye or suds in which cloth is soaked in the operation of bleaching, or in which clothes are washed.
Buck
The cloth or clothes soaked or washed.
Buck
(intransitive) To copulate, as bucks and does.
Buck
(intransitive) To bend; buckle.
Buck
To leap upward arching its back, coming down with head low and forelegs stiff, forcefully kicking its hind legs upward, often in an attempt to dislodge or throw a rider or pack.
Buck
To throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.
Buck
To subject to a mode of punishment which consists of tying the wrists together, passing the arms over the bent knees, and putting a stick across the arms and in the angle formed by the knees.
Buck
To resist obstinately; oppose or object strongly.
The vice president bucked at the board's latest solution.
Buck
To move or operate in a sharp, jerking, or uneven manner.
The motor bucked and sputtered before dying completely.
Buck
To overcome or shed (e.g., an impediment or expectation), in pursuit of a goal; to force a way through despite (an obstacle); to resist or proceed against.
The plane bucked a strong headwind.
Our managers have to learn to buck the trend and do the right thing for their employees.
John is really bucking the odds on that risky business venture. He's doing quite well.
Buck
(riveting) To press a reinforcing device (bucking bar) against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion. See Wikipedia: Rivet:Installation.
Buck
(forestry) To saw a felled tree into shorter lengths, as for firewood.
Buck
(electronics) To output a voltage that is lower than the input voltage. See Wikipedia: Buck converter
Buck
To soak, steep or boil in lye or suds, as part of the bleaching process.
Buck
To wash (clothes) in lye or suds, or, in later usage, by beating them on stones in running water.
Buck
(mining) To break up or pulverize, as ores.
Buck
Lye or suds in which cloth is soaked in the operation of bleaching, or in which clothes are washed.
Buck
The cloth or clothes soaked or washed.
Buck
The male of deer, especially fallow deer and antelopes, or of goats, sheep, hares, and rabbits.
Buck
A gay, dashing young fellow; a fop; a dandy.
The leading bucks of the day.
Buck
A male Indian or negro.
Buck
A frame on which firewood is sawed; a sawhorse; a sawbuck.
Buck
The beech tree.
Buck
To soak, steep, or boil, in lye or suds; - a process in bleaching.
Buck
To wash (clothes) in lye or suds, or, in later usage, by beating them on stones in running water.
Buck
To break up or pulverize, as ores.
Buck
To copulate, as bucks and does.
Buck
To spring with quick plunging leaps, descending with the fore legs rigid and the head held as low down as possible; - said of a vicious horse or mule.
Buck
To subject to a mode of punishment which consists in tying the wrists together, passing the arms over the bent knees, and putting a stick across the arms and in the angle formed by the knees.
Buck
A gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting
Buck
A piece of paper money worth one dollar
Buck
United States author whose novels drew on her experiences as a missionary in China (1892-1973)
Buck
A framework for holding wood that is being sawed
Buck
Mature male of various mammals (especially deer or antelope)
Buck
To strive with determination;
John is bucking for a promotion
Buck
Resist;
Buck the trend
Buck
Move quickly and violently;
The car tore down the street
He came charging into my office
Buck
Jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched;
The yung filly bucked
Buck
Of the lowest rank in a category;
A buck private
Buck
An antlered male of certain animals like antelope and caribou.
The hunters spotted a magnificent buck in the clearing.
Buck
A term used in certain games to refer to a dollar.
He bet a buck on the game.
Buck
To move in a sudden jerky manner.
The horse began to buck wildly.
FAQs
Are rams solitary animals?
Rams are typically part of larger flocks of sheep.
What is a ram?
A ram is a male sheep known for its large, curved horns.
Where do bucks typically live?
Bucks are found in forests and grasslands with abundant vegetation.
What distinguishes a buck from other male animals?
Bucks are distinguished by their antlers, which they shed and regrow annually.
Do bucks live in groups?
Bucks are generally solitary or live in small groups.
Do ram horns shed like antlers?
No, ram horns do not shed and continue to grow throughout their lives.
Where can rams usually be found?
Rams inhabit hilly or mountainous terrains.
What is the primary use of antlers in bucks?
Antlers are used by bucks to compete for mates during the breeding season.
How do rams use their horns?
Rams use their horns to establish dominance within their flock.
Are bucks fast runners?
Yes, bucks are agile and fast, capable of evading predators by running and jumping.
How do rams defend themselves?
Rams rely on their strength and the protection of their flock for defense.
What is a buck?
A buck is a male deer, especially an adult one.
What do rams eat?
Rams graze on grass and other vegetation found in their habitat.
What do bucks eat?
Bucks primarily eat vegetation like leaves, twigs, and grass.
Do rams face predation?
Rams can be preyed upon by large predators like wolves and bears.
What adaptations help rams in their environment?
Rams have strength and the social structure of their flock to protect them from threats.
What is the mating season behavior of rams?
Rams clash with their horns to assert dominance and secure mates.
What adaptations help bucks survive in the wild?
Bucks have agility and speed to escape predators and navigate their environment.
What is the mating season behavior of bucks?
During mating season, bucks engage in battles using their antlers to win over females.
Do bucks have any predators?
Yes, bucks are preyed upon by large carnivores such as wolves and cougars.
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
