- 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.
- 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.
- the winning of 27 cards or more.
- tricks won in excess of six.
- 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.
- postcard.
- calling card (def. 1).
- Commerce.
- a program of the events at races, boxing matches, etc.
- scorecard.
- a menu or wine list.
- compass card.
- Computers.
- trading card.
- 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.
- to examine the identity card or papers of: The bartender was carding all youthful customers to be sure they were of legal drinking age.
- impending or likely; probable: A reorganization is in the cards.
- to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously: If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.
- 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.
- to dress (wool or the like) with a card.
- to add extra space between lines of text, so as to fill out a page or column or give the text a better appearance.
- Cardinal.
- 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
- such a card used for sending greetings, messages, or invitations, often bearing an illustration, printed greetings, etc
- 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)
- (in combination)
- a witty, entertaining, or eccentric person
- short for cheque card, credit card
- See compass card
- 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
- 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
- Cardinal
