card
1a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card.
one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card.
cards, (usually used with a singular verb)
a game or games played with such a set.
the playing of such a game: to win at cards.
Casino. the winning of 27 cards or more.
Whist. tricks won in excess of six.
Also called greeting card . a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually folded, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a person on an appropriate occasion.
something useful in attaining an objective, as a course of action or position of strength, comparable to a high card held in a game: If negotiation fails, we still have another card to play.
a specified topic that elicits strong reactions, brought up as part of a strategic move to gain an advantage: She was accused of playing the gender card when her male boss passed her over for promotion.He pulled the race card by branding his Muslim opponent as radical.
Commerce.
a program of the events at races, boxing matches, etc.
a menu or wine list.
Computers.
Informal.
a person who is amusing or facetious.
any person, especially one with some indicated characteristic: a queer card.
to provide with a card.
to fasten on a card.
to write, list, etc., on cards.
Slang. to examine the identity card or papers of: The bartender was carding all youthful customers to be sure they were of legal drinking age.
Idioms about card
in / on the cards, impending or likely; probable: A reorganization is in the cards.
play one's cards right, to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously: If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.
put one's cards on the table, to be completely straightforward and open; conceal nothing: He always believed in putting his cards on the table.
Origin of card
1Other definitions for card (2 of 3)
a machine for combing and paralleling fibers of cotton, flax, wool, etc., prior to spinning to remove short, undesirable fibers and produce a sliver.
a similar implement for raising the nap on cloth.
to dress (wool or the like) with a card.
Origin of card
2Other words from card
- carder, noun
Other definitions for Card. (3 of 3)
Cardinal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use card in a sentence
Police say they eventually identified Erasquin through cellphone, credit card, Uber and PayPal records showing he had communicated with the girls, sent them cash and bought them first-class plane tickets, expensive cameras and luxury handbags.
Matthew Erasquin, Arlington lawyer, accused of paying underage girls for sex | Rachel Weiner | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostWhile CB Insights notes the online banks are benefiting from tailwinds in the form of increased online commerce and a bounce back in debit card spending, it’s an open question if there are enough debit swipes to go around.
‘Challenger banks’ are on track for a record year even as business model remains uncertain | Jeff | November 18, 2020 | FortuneMaybe you need to pay off a few credit cards and get your credit score up a few points.
Policy-makers use these statistics when they decide on stimulus packages to help people and businesses during a recession and interest rates that affect how much interest we pay on our credit cards and mortgages.
From card games to planners to jewelry, this season there’s no need to shorten your accessibility to grabbing a gift.
Carded wool becomes woolen goods; combed wool, worsted goods.
A Civic Biology | George William HunterWhen they had spun the flax and carded it, the little mouse wove a beautiful piece of fine linen.
Mighty Mikko | Parker FillmoreThis wool was scoured, carded, spun by the family in the farmhouse, and then woven into cloth for the winter's wear.
American Inventions and Inventors | William A. MowryFor her soul was white like to thrice-carded wool, and so his soul was red with all that was of courage or knightly pride.
The Story of the Champions of the Round Table | Howard PyleThe warp and filling are made of carded wool so that the web (cloth) will shrink or full evenly.
Textiles | William H. Dooley
British Dictionary definitions for card (1 of 3)
/ (kɑːd) /
a piece of stiff paper or thin cardboard, usually rectangular, with varied uses, as for filing information in an index, bearing a written notice for display, entering scores in a game, etc
such a card used for identification, reference, proof of membership, etc: library card; identity card; visiting card
such a card used for sending greetings, messages, or invitations, often bearing an illustration, printed greetings, etc: Christmas card; birthday card
one of a set of small pieces of cardboard, variously marked with significant figures, symbols, etc, used for playing games or for fortune-telling
short for playing card
(as modifier): a card game
(in combination): cardsharp
informal a witty, entertaining, or eccentric person
short for cheque card, credit card
See compass card
Also called: race card horse racing a daily programme of all the races at a meeting, listing the runners, riders, weights to be carried, distances to be run, and conditions of each race
a thing or action used in order to gain an advantage, esp one that is concealed and kept in reserve until needed (esp in the phrase a card up one's sleeve)
short for printed circuit card: See printed circuit board
Origin of card
1- See also cards
British Dictionary definitions for card (2 of 3)
/ (kɑːd) /
(tr) to comb out and clean fibres of wool or cotton before spinning
(formerly) a machine or comblike tool for carding fabrics or for raising the nap on cloth
Origin of card
2Derived forms of card
- carding, noun
- carder, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Card. (3 of 3)
Cardinal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with card
In addition to the idioms beginning with card
- card in
- cards are stacked against
- card up one's sleeve
also see:
- hold all the aces (the trump card)
- house of cards
- in the cards
- lay one's cards on the table
- play one's cards close to one's chest
play one's cards righttrump cardwild card.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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