playing card

American  

noun

1. one of the conventional set of 52 cards in four suits, as diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs, used in playing various games of chance and skill.

2. one of any set or pack of cards used in playing games.

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playing card British  

noun

1. one of a pack of 52 rectangular stiff cards, used for playing a variety of games, each card having one or more symbols of the same kind (diamonds, hearts, clubs, or spades) on the face, but an identical design on the reverse See also suit

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Etymology

Origin of playing card

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

The story was so weird, but we enjoyed the pictures of the strange creatures and people Alice met, like the ones with bodies made from playing cards.

From Literature

Her plus-size subjects were joyous drag queens, women, sailors and old ladies all having a good time on nights out, in Plymouth shopping, playing cards or bingo.

From BBC

"It was raining, we were all in the tent playing cards with the gang, then we heard shouting," camper Matthew Stanhope told The Age newspaper, saying he and his friends ran to a nearby hill.

From Barron's

He tried to pass the time playing cards, watching TV and exercising.

From Los Angeles Times

Which was fun, because then it happened that you started playing cards and we became a real ensemble.

From Los Angeles Times