one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
"he collected cards and traded them with the other boys"
a rectangular piece of stiff paper used to send messages (may have printed greetings or pictures)
"they sent us a card from Miami"
thin cardboard, usually rectangular
"He carefully folded the greeting card before slipping it into his mailbox."
a printed or written greeting that is left to indicate that you have visited
"I found a card left on the doormat from my neighbors wishing me a happy birthday after their quick drop-by."
a list of dishes available at a restaurant
"the menu was in French"
(baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat
"the managers presented their cards to the umpire at home plate"
a printed circuit that can be inserted into expansion slots in a computer to increase the computer's capabilities
"The technician swapped out the old graphics card for a new model to boost the gaming performance."
A playing card.
"The local birdwatching club just confirmed they spotted a rare card in their backyard garden."
Material with embedded short wire bristles.
Abbreviation of cardinal (“songbird”).
In plain English: A card is a small, flat piece of paper or plastic used for playing games, sending messages, or storing data on a computer.
"I am looking for my student ID card in my backpack."
Usage: In everyday usage, a card is a flat piece of paper or plastic used for writing messages, playing games, or holding information. Do not confuse this common object with the abbreviation "card" for a songbird, which is a specialized term rarely heard outside ornithology.
ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor
"I was carded when I tried to buy a beer!"
To check IDs, especially against a minimum age requirement.
"Before attempting to spin the raw fleece, she sat down to card it thoroughly so the fibers would align properly for the wheel."
To use a carding device to disentangle the fibres of wool prior to spinning.
In plain English: To card something means to comb through it with a tool to remove tangles or separate the fibers.
"The mill workers were carding wool all day in preparation for the winter sweaters."
Usage: Do not use the verb "to card" when referring to wool processing in casual conversation, as this specific technical meaning is rarely used outside of textile manufacturing contexts. In everyday English, people typically use nouns like "card" for identification or payment rather than this action-oriented definition.
An occupational surname, from occupations for a carder of wool.
"The historian explained that the Card family name likely originated when an ancestor worked as a wool carder to prepare fibers for spinning."
The word "card" comes from the Old French carte, which was borrowed from the Latin charta meaning paper or papyrus. It eventually entered English in Middle English to refer specifically to playing cards.