I. ˈkärd, ˈkȧd transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English carden, from Middle French carder, from carde
1. : to cleanse, disentangle, and collect together (as animal or vegetable fibers) by the use of a card preparatory to spinning, the process being used to prepare fibers of relatively short length — compare comb vt 1b
2. obsolete : to stir together and mix as if by combing together with a card
3. : to torture by drawing a wool card or similar instrument over the bare back or other part of the body
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English carde, from Middle French, from Late Latin cardus thistle, from Latin carduus — more at chard
1. : an implement (as a wire brush) for raising a nap on cloth
2.
a. : a hand instrument for cleaning, disentangling, and ordering animal or vegetable fibers preparatory to spinning usually consisting of bent wire teeth set closely in rows in a thick piece of leather fastened to a back
b. : carding machine
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English carde, modification of Middle French carte, probably from Old Italian carta, literally, leaf of paper, from Latin charta leaf of papyrus, from Greek chartēs
1.
a. : playing card
b. : a playing card considered in terms of its rank, value, or function
a high card
a trump card
especially : a relatively high or valuable card
they had all the cards
I didn't hold a card
2. cards plural but sometimes singular in construction
a. : a game played with cards : card playing
lose a fortune at cards
b. : the winning of a majority of the cards in certain games (as casino)
give three points for cards
c. : playing cards used for fortunetelling or to reveal what is destined to be
read the cards correctly
— used especially with in or on
it is not in the cards for him to win the election
3. : something compared to a valuable playing card in one's hand : an act, fact, force, or means advantageous to the attainment of an object
hold strong cards in the negotiations
4. : an amusing person : one given to freakish, clownish, or uninhibited behavior : an amateur comedian : wag
5.
a. obsolete : chart
a card of the sea
b. : compass card
6.
a. : a flat stiff piece of paper or thin paperboard suitable for writing or printing, typically small and rectangular, and carrying (1) a communication for transmission by mail (as a postcard), (2) an invitation or announcement
wedding card
graduation card
(3) a person's or firm's name or name and address (as a visiting card), (4) a certification of membership, reference, or credential (as in a labor union or political party), (5) a record (as a unit in a system of filing or sorting)
the information was punched on cards
b. : a piece of paper or thin paperboard having any of a variety of shapes and formats and bearing a greeting or a message of sentiment, sympathy, or congratulation
birthday card
c. : program ; especially : a sports program
racing card
boxing card
d. : a tally sheet (as for a player's golf score) : scorecard
e.
(1) : a wine list
(2) : menu
f. : store card
g. : a number of articles attached to a piece of stiff paper or bound together in a flat sheet to be sold as a unit
a card of buttons
h. : cardboard
7. : a published note (as in a newspaper) containing a brief statement, request, or advertisement
8. : any of the perforated boards or plates in a dobby or a jacquard loom for operating the successive combinations of wires that move the warp threads
9. slang : a single portion of a narcotic drug
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
archaic : to play cards — sometimes used with it
card it all night — Henry Fielding
transitive verb
1. : to place or fasten on or by means of a card
his name was carded upon three staterooms — E.A.Poe
2. : to provide with a card : attach a card to
3. : to enter or list on a card
4. sports : score ; specifically : to record (a score) upon a scorecard
golfers who carded 80 on an 18-hole course
5. : schedule
card a train
6. : slip V 2
V. abbreviation
Usage: usually capitalized
cardinal
VI. noun
1. : credit card
2. : a flat stiff piece of material (as plastic) bearing electronic circuit components for insertion into a larger electronic device (as a computer)
3. : an issue especially with emotional appeal that is brought into play to achieve a desired end (as a campaign victory)
played the race card
VII. transitive verb
: to ask for identification (as in a bar)