card

[ kahrd ]

/ kɑrd /

noun

a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card.

one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card.

cards, (usually used with a singular verb)

a game or games played with such a set.
the playing of such a game: to win at cards.
Casino. the winning of 27 cards or more.
Whist. tricks won in excess of six.

Also called greeting card. a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually folded, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a person on an appropriate occasion.

something useful in attaining an objective, as a course of action or position of strength, comparable to a high card held in a game: If negotiation fails, we still have another card to play.

a specified topic that elicits strong reactions, brought up as part of a strategic move to gain an advantage: She was accused of playing the gender card when her male boss passed her over for promotion. He pulled the race card by branding his Muslim opponent as radical.

postcard.

calling card(def 1).

Commerce.

credit card.
bank card.

a program of the events at races, boxing matches, etc.

scorecard.

a menu or wine list.

compass card.

Computers.

trading card.

Informal.

a person who is amusing or facetious.
any person, especially one with some indicated characteristic: a queer card.

verb (used with object)

to provide with a card.

to fasten on a card.

to write, list, etc., on cards.

Slang. to examine the identity card or papers of: The bartender was carding all youthful customers to be sure they were of legal drinking age.

Idioms for card

in/on the cards, impending or likely; probable: A reorganization is in the cards.

play one's cards right, to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously: If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.

put one's cards on the table, to be completely straightforward and open; conceal nothing: He always believed in putting his cards on the table.

Origin of card

1350–1400; Middle English carde, unexplained variant of carte

Words nearby card

carcinomatous, carcinomatous myopathy, carcinophobia, carcinosarcoma, carcinosis, card, card catalog, card catalogue, card clothing, card counter, card file

British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (1 of 2)

card ¹

/ (kɑːd) /

noun

a piece of stiff paper or thin cardboard, usually rectangular, with varied uses, as for filing information in an index, bearing a written notice for display, entering scores in a game, etc

such a card used for identification, reference, proof of membership, etc library card; identity card; visiting card

such a card used for sending greetings, messages, or invitations, often bearing an illustration, printed greetings, etc Christmas card; birthday card

one of a set of small pieces of cardboard, variously marked with significant figures, symbols, etc, used for playing games or for fortune-telling

short for playing card
(as modifier)a card game
(in combination)cardsharp

informal a witty, entertaining, or eccentric person

short for cheque card, credit card

See compass card

Also called: race card horse racing a daily programme of all the races at a meeting, listing the runners, riders, weights to be carried, distances to be run, and conditions of each race

a thing or action used in order to gain an advantage, esp one that is concealed and kept in reserve until needed (esp in the phrase a card up one's sleeve)

short for printed circuit card See printed circuit board

Word Origin for card

C15: from Old French carte, from Latin charta leaf of papyrus, from Greek khartēs, probably of Egyptian origin

British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (2 of 2)

card ²

/ (kɑːd) /

verb

(tr) to comb out and clean fibres of wool or cotton before spinning

noun

(formerly) a machine or comblike tool for carding fabrics or for raising the nap on cloth

Derived forms of card

carding, noun carder, noun

Word Origin for card

C15: from Old French carde card, teasel, from Latin carduus thistle

Idioms and Phrases with play one's cards right (1 of 2)

play one's cards right

Make good use of one's resources or strategies, as in She played her cards right and got a promotion. [Mid-1700s]

Idioms and Phrases with play one's cards right (2 of 2)

card

In addition to the idioms beginning with card

card in
cards are stacked against
card up one's sleeve

also see:

hold all the aces (the trump card)
house of cards
in the cards
lay one's cards on the table
play one's cards close to one's chest

play one's cards righttrump cardwild card.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

card

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for card

Origin of card

Words nearby card

British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for card

British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of card

Word Origin for card

Idioms and Phrases with play one's cards right (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with play one's cards right (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

card

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for card

Origin of card

Words nearby card

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for card

British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of card

Word Origin for card

Idioms and Phrases with play one's cards right (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with play one's cards right (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for play one's cards right (1 of 2)