/ kɑːd; NAmE kɑːrd/ noun , verb
■ noun
PAPER
1.
[ U ] ( BrE ) thick stiff paper :
a piece of card
The model of the building was made of card.
WITH INFORMATION
2.
[ C ] a small piece of stiff paper or plastic with information on it, especially information about sb's identity :
a membership card
an appointment card
—see also green card , identity card , loyalty card , red card , report card , yellow card
3.
[ C ] = business card :
Here's my card if you need to contact me again.
4.
[ C ] = visiting card
FOR MONEY
5.
[ C ] a small piece of plastic, especially one given by a bank or shop / store, used for buying things or obtaining money :
I put the meal on (= paid for it using) my card.
a phone card
—see also cash card , charge card , cheque card , chip card , credit card , smart card , swipe card
WITH A MESSAGE
6.
[ C ] a piece of stiff paper that is folded in the middle and has a picture on the front of it, used for sending sb a message with your good wishes, an invitation, etc. :
a birthday / get-well / good luck card
—see also Christmas card , greetings card
7.
[ C ] = postcard :
Did you get my card from Italy?
IN GAMES
8.
[ C ] = playing card :
Let's have a game of cards.
( BrE )
a pack of cards
( NAmE )
a deck of cards
—see also trump card , wild card
9.
cards [ pl. ] a game or games in which playing cards are used :
Who wants to play cards?
I've never been very good at cards.
She won £20 at cards.
COMPUTING
10.
[ C ] a small device containing an electronic circuit that is part of a computer or added to it, enabling it to perform particular functions :
a printed circuit card
a graphics / network / sound card
—see also expansion card
PERSON
11.
[ C ] ( old-fashioned , informal ) an unusual or amusing person
HORSE RACES
12.
[ C ] a list of all the races at a particular race meeting (= a series of horse races) :
a race card
FOR WOOL / COTTON
13.
[ C ] ( technical ) a machine or tool used for cleaning and combing wool or cotton before it is spun
•
IDIOMS
- sb's best / strongest / winning card
- get your cards
- give sb their cards
- have a card up your sleeve
- hold all the cards
- hold / keep / play your cards close to your chest
- lay / put your cards on the table
- on the cards
- play the ... card
- play your cards right
—more at show verb , stacked
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
( technical ) to clean wool using a wire instrument
2.
( NAmE , informal ) to ask a person to show their identity card as a means of checking how old they are, for example if they want to buy alcohol
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 12 and verb sense 2 late Middle English (originally in sense 8 of the noun): from Old French carte , from Latin carta , charta , from Greek khartēs papyrus leaf.
noun sense 13 and verb sense 1 late Middle English : from Old French carde , from Provençal carda , from cardar tease, comb, based on Latin carere to card.