card catalog

American

noun

a file of cards of uniform size arranged in some definite order and listing the items in the collection of a library or group of libraries, each card typically identifying a single item.

Etymology

Origin of card catalog

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After a day of reviewing cookbooks and recipes from competent, contemporary cooks, I find myself scrolling toward something stranger: accounts that operate like a digital card catalog of retro culinary horror and delight.

From Salon • Sep. 23, 2025

A different "card catalog" is required for different antigens.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2023

Nervously, I looked around as I gathered the courage to walk over to the card catalog.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2023

There is an old card catalog Offill lugged home one day as a present for her husband, and a chalkboard marking planting dates for his sugar snap peas and baby bok choy.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2020

Pretty soon, all the teams were grabbing desks and firing up the tablet computers built into the furniture so they could explore the library’s online card catalog.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023