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• card
  card

  noun

  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.
• Card.
  Card.

  abbreviation

  Cardinal.

card

¹ American  

[kahrd] / kɑrd /

noun

1. 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.

2. one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card.

3. (usually used with a singular verb) cards,

   1. a game or games played with such a set.

   2. the playing of such a game.

      to win at cards.

   3. Casino. the winning of 27 cards or more.

   4. Whist. tricks won in excess of six.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. postcard.

8. calling card.

9. Commerce.

   1. credit card.

   2. bank card.

10. a program of the events at races, boxing matches, etc.

11. scorecard.

12. a menu or wine list.

13. compass card.

14. Computers.

    1. punch card.

    2. board.

15. trading card.

16. Informal.

    1. a person who is amusing or facetious.

    2. any person, especially one with some indicated characteristic.

       a queer card.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a card.

2. to fasten on a card.

3. to write, list, etc., on cards.

4. 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

1. play one's cards right, to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously.

   If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.

2. in / on the cards, impending or likely; probable.

   A reorganization is in the cards.

3. 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.

card ² American  

[kahrd] / kɑrd /

noun

1. a machine for combing and paralleling fibers of cotton, flax, wool, etc., prior to spinning to remove short, undesirable fibers and produce a sliver.

2. a similar implement for raising the nap on cloth.

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verb (used with object)

1. to dress (wool or the like) with a card.

idioms

1. card out, to add extra space between lines of text, so as to fill out a page or column or give the text a better appearance.

Card. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Cardinal.

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card ¹ British  

/ kɑːd /

noun

1. 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

2. such a card used for identification, reference, proof of membership, etc

   library card

   identity card

   visiting card

3. such a card used for sending greetings, messages, or invitations, often bearing an illustration, printed greetings, etc

   Christmas card

   birthday card

4. one of a set of small pieces of cardboard, variously marked with significant figures, symbols, etc, used for playing games or for fortune-telling

5. 1. short for playing card

   2. ( as modifier )

      a card game

   3. ( in combination )

      cardsharp

6. informal a witty, entertaining, or eccentric person

7. short for cheque card credit card

8. See compass card

9. 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

10. 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 )

11. short for printed circuit card See printed circuit board

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card ² British  

/ kɑːd /

verb

1. (tr) to comb out and clean fibres of wool or cotton before spinning

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noun

1. (formerly) a machine or comblike tool for carding fabrics or for raising the nap on cloth

Card. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. Cardinal

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card More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing card

• 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 right
• trump card
• wild card

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Other Word Forms

• carder
  noun
• carding
  noun

Etymology

Origin of card¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English carde, unexplained variant of Old French carte carte

Origin of card²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English card(e), from Middle French: literally, “teasel head,” from Late Latin cardus “teasel,” from Latin carduus “thistle”

Explanation

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

card Card.

This reduced rate would be paid onto a "Back to Work" card, which would not allow cash withdrawals or spending on these items.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

A rube who wants to be making musical theater, Dan is just hoping to earn a SAG card.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

I recently watched with smug satisfaction as OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra model hunted through spreadsheets to reconcile an uncooperative credit card statement and then navigated QuickBooks to make sure it was reflected in the right places.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

For those who don’t know, the Direct Express card is a prepaid debit card on which a person’s federal benefit gets loaded each month.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Two minutes and twenty-three seconds later, we’re back in the office, out of breath, but with my workbook and Don McAndrews’s business card.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

However, following confirmation of Card’s death, a public safety alert was issued that announced: “The search is over for Mr. Card. The caution is over. Hunting may resume.”

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 28, 2023

They are sung in the Sixtine chapel by members of the papal choir, and are read by the Card. celebrant.

From The Ceremonies of the Holy-Week at Rome by Charles Michael Baggs

Enter Card. and Queen; the noise of a Battel continuing afar off all the Scene.

From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume II by Montague Summers

The oils are blessed in S. Peter's during mass, by the Card. archpriest, or a Bishop in his stead.

From The Ceremonies of the Holy-Week at Rome by Charles Michael Baggs

The Card. great Penitentiary with the sacred ministers are habited in black.

From The Ceremonies of the Holy-Week at Rome by Charles Michael Baggs

Related Words

• badge
• calendar
• check
• label
• poster
• program
• sheet
• ticket