card Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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
  2. noun a card certifying the identity of the bearer
    identity card.
    • he had to show his card to get in
  3. noun a rectangular piece of stiff paper used to send messages (may have printed greetings or pictures)
    • they sent us a card from Miami
  4. noun thin cardboard, usually rectangular
  5. noun a witty amusing person who makes jokes
    wag; wit.
  6. noun a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement
    notice; placard; posting; poster; bill.
    • a poster advertised the coming attractions
  7. noun a printed or written greeting that is left to indicate that you have visited
    calling card; visiting card.
  8. noun (golf) a record of scores (as in golf)
    scorecard.
    • you have to turn in your card to get a handicap
  9. noun a list of dishes available at a restaurant
    bill of fare; menu; carte du jour; carte.
    • the menu was in French
  10. noun (baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat
    batting order; lineup.
    • the managers presented their cards to the umpire at home plate
  11. noun a printed circuit that can be inserted into expansion slots in a computer to increase the computer's capabilities
    circuit card; add-in; board; plug-in; circuit board.
  12. verb separate the fibers of
    tease.
    • tease wool
  13. verb 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!

WordNet

Card noun
Etymology
F. carte, fr. L. charta paper, Gr. a leaf of paper. Cf. Chart.
Definitions
  1. A piece of pasteboard, or thick paper, blank or prepared for various uses; as, a playing card; a visiting card; a card of invitation; pl. a game played with cards.
    Our first cards were to Carabas House. Thackeray.
  2. A published note, containing a brief statement, explanation, request, expression of thanks, or the like; as, to put a card in the newspapers. Also, a printed programme, and (fig.), an attraction or inducement; as, this will be a good card for the last day of the fair.
  3. A paper on which the points of the compass are marked; the dial or face of the mariner's compass.
    All the quartere that they know I' the shipman's card. Shak.
  4. (Weaving) A perforated pasteboard or sheet-metal plate for warp threads, making part of the Jacquard apparatus of a loom. See Jacquard.
  5. An indicator card. See under Indicator.
Card intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Carded; present participle & verbal noun Carding
Definitions
  1. To play at cards; to game. Johnson.
Card noun
Etymology
F. carde teasel, the head of a thistle, card, from L. carduus, cardus, thistle, fr. carere to card.
Definitions
  1. An instrument for disentangling and arranging the fibers of cotton, wool, flax, etc.; or for cleaning and smoothing the hair of animals; -- usually consisting of bent wire teeth set closely in rows in a thick piece of leather fastened to a back.
  2. A roll or sliver of fiber (as of wool) delivered from a carding machine.
Card transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To comb with a card; to cleanse or disentangle by carding; as, to card wool; to card a horse.
    These card the short comb the longer flakes. Dyer.
  2. To clean or clear, as if by using a card. Obs.
    This book [must] be carded and purged. T. Shelton.
  3. To mix or mingle, as with an inferior or weaker article. Obs.
    You card your beer, if you guests being to be drunk. -- half small, half strong. Greene.
    ✍ In the manufacture of wool, cotton, etc., the process of carding disentangles and collects together all the fibers, of whatever length, and thus differs from combing, in which the longer fibers only are collected, while the short straple is combed away. See Combing.

Webster 1913