1
2
cards plural in form but singular or plural in construction
a
: a game played with cards
b
: card playing
3
a
: something (such as an advantage) compared to a valuable playing card in one's hand
holding all the cards in negotiations
b
: an issue especially with emotional appeal that is brought into play to achieve a desired end (such as winning a political campaign)
played the race card
4
a
: greeting card
a birthday card
b
: a flat stiff usually small and rectangular piece of material (such as paper, cardboard, or plastic) usually bearing information: such as
(1)
: postcard
(2)
(3)
(4)
: one bearing a picture (as of a baseball player) on one side and usually statistical data on the other
(5)
: one on which computer information is stored (as in the form of punched holes or magnetic encoding)
(6)
: one bearing electronic circuit components for insertion into a larger electronic device (such as a computer)
(7)
c
: program
especially
: a sports program
three fights on the card
d(1)
: a wine list
(2)
: menu
5
informal + old-fashioned
: a usually clownishly amusing person : wag
He's such a card!
6
carded; carding; cards
1
: to ask for identification (as in a bar)
We all got carded.
2
: score
a golfer carding a 75
3
: to place or fasten on or by means of a card
4
: to provide with a card
5
: to list or record on a card
carded; carding; cards
: to cleanse, disentangle, and collect together (fibers) by the use of cards preparatory to spinning
carder
noun
1
: an instrument or machine for carding fibers that consists usually of bent wire teeth set closely in rows in a thick piece of leather fastened to a back
2
: an implement for raising a nap on cloth
Synonyms
Examples of card in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the diners asked if there were any specials on the card for the evening
you're really a card, but save the jokes for after class
Recent Examples on the Web
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Sarah Lim, Saratoga golf: Posted two excellent performances, carding a 2-under 35 at Coyote Creek in a win over Los Gatos and a 4-under 30 in a win over Milpitas at Saratoga Country Club.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
The top of the UFC 310 card is a work in progress as the promotion is still seemingly looking for an opponent to replace welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, who is out with a bone infection in his toe.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for card 
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Verb
Beck cards a 29-30, 13 under, to match Al Geiberger’s second round of the 1977 Memphis Classic.
1992 — Deion Sanders, plays for Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Braves (Baseball) on the same day.
2009 — Kurt Warner passes for 301 yards in Arizona’s 28-21 win over Houston.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Sarah Lim, Saratoga golf: Posted two excellent performances, carding a 2-under 35 at Coyote Creek in a win over Los Gatos and a 4-under 30 in a win over Milpitas at Saratoga Country Club.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
Proof of service includes a military ID card, VA card, or discharge papers.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
The top of the UFC 310 card is a work in progress as the promotion is still seemingly looking for an opponent to replace welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, who is out with a bone infection in his toe.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for card
Dictionary Entries Near card
Cite this Entry
“Card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/card. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
card
1 of 4 verb
: to clean and untangle fibers by combing with a card before spinning
carder
noun
card
2 of 4 noun
: an instrument usually having bent wire teeth for combing fibers (as wool or cotton)
card
3 of 4 noun1
2
plural
a
: a game played with cards
b
: card playing
3
informal
: an amusing person : wag
—used especially in the past
4
: a flat stiff usually small and rectangular piece of paper, thin cardboard, or plastic: as
a
: postcard
b
: such a card on which computer information is stored
c
d
5
: a sports program
6
: a removable circuit board (as in a personal computer)
card
4 of 4 verb1
: to provide with a card
2
: to ask for identification
Etymology
Noun
Middle English carde "instrument for combing fibers," from Latin cardus, carduus "instrument for combing fibers, thistle," from earlier Latin carduus "thistle"
Noun
Middle English carde "playing card," from early French carte (same meaning), probably from early Italian carta, literally, "leaf of paper," from Latin charta "piece of papyrus" — related to carton, cartoon, chart
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