a 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.
(usually used with a singular verb) cards,
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.
play one's cards right, to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously.
If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.
in / on the cards, impending or likely; probable.
A reorganization is in the cards.
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.
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.
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
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English carde, unexplained variant of Old French carte carte
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English card(e), from Middle French: literally, “teasel head,” from Late Latin cardus “teasel,” from Latin carduus “thistle”
A card is a thick, often square or rectangular piece of paper. A schmoozer might hand you a business card, or you might send your mom a Mother’s Day card, or perhaps you’ll play poker with a deck of cards. There are many different kinds of cards, from birthday cards to flashcards for studying vocabulary words before a big test. Cards are traditionally made from a light cardboard or heavy weight paper, although you probably also have plastic cards like an ATM card or a library card. To card someone is to ask for an identification card. The Greek root of card is khartes, "layer of papyrus."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Business owners argue that card- or app-only payment systems streamline business operations and limit assets on hand.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2023
He said IBM's new process could be used for AI uses that today need a second piece of tech - such as a powerful graphics card- to handle some tasks.
From BBC • May 6, 2021
The unit is expanding its roster of merchant partners, taking aim at Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc.’s credit card- swiping customers. swiping customers.
From BusinessWeek • Jan. 19, 2012
The prime uses: archival scanning that once required exhaustive card- catalog searches and high-speed analysis of myriad numbers until the machine kicks out revelatory patterns.
From Time Magazine Archive
Gold’s mother leaped up and started stuffing her son’s clothes into a card- board suitcase.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
