card¹ (kärd)
n.

1. A flat, usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, cardboard, or plastic, especially:
   1. One of a set or pack bearing significant numbers, symbols, or figures, used in games and in divination.
   2. A greeting card.
   3. A post card.
   4. One bearing a person's name and other information, used for purposes of identification or classification.
   5. One bearing the image and often the statistics of a sports figure.
   6. A business card.
   7. A credit card.
   8. A magnetic card.
   9. One used for recording information in a file: an index card; a recipe card.
2. cards (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Games.
   1. A game played with cards.
   2. The playing of games with cards.
3. A program, especially for a sports event.
4. 1. A menu, as in a restaurant.
   2. A wine list.
5. Computer Science.
   1. A circuit board, especially for use in a computer.
   2. A punch card.
6. A compass card.
7. Informal. An eccentrically amusing person.
8. 1. Something, such as an advantageous circumstance or tactical maneuver, that can be used to help gain an objective. Often used with play: "[He believed that] Soviet Russia ... had far more Iranian cards to play than the United States" (Theodore Draper).
   2. An appeal to a specified issue or argument, usually one involving strong emotions. Often used with play: "His exposure as a racist ... allowed the defense to play the race card" (New York Times).

tr.v., card·ed, card·ing, cards.

1. To furnish with or attach to a card.
2. To list (something) on a card; catalog.
3. To check the identification of, especially in order to verify legal age.
4. Sports. To warn or eject (a soccer player who has committed a flagrant foul) by showing a yellow card or a red card.

phrasal verbs:

card in

1. To sign in, as at a place of business, by use of a magnetic card.

card out

1. To sign out, as from a place of business, by use of a magnetic card.

idioms:

card up (one's) sleeve

1. A secret resource or plan held in reserve: a tough negotiator who had a number of cards up his sleeve.

in the cards

1. Likely or certain to happen: My promotion to a higher position just isn't in the cards.

put (or lay) (one's) cards on the table

1. To make frank and clear revelation, as of one's motives or intentions.

[Middle English carde, from Old French carte, from Latin charta, paper made from papyrus, from Greek khartēs.]

card² (kärd)
n.

1. A wire-toothed brush or a machine fitted with rows of wire teeth, used to disentangle fibers, as of wool, prior to spinning.
2. A device used to raise the nap on a fabric.

tr.v., card·ed, card·ing, cards.
To comb out or brush with a card.

[Middle English carde, from Medieval Latin cardus, from Latin carduus, thistle.]

carder card'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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