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cardboard

noun
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card·​board | \ ˈkärd-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce cardboard (audio) \

Definition of cardboard

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a material made from cellulose fiber (such as wood pulp) like paper but usually thicker

cardboard

adjective

Definition of cardboard (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : made of or as if of cardboard
2 : unreal, stereotyped a play with cardboard characters
Other Words from cardboard More Example Sentences Learn More about cardboard

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Other Words from cardboard

Noun

cardboardy \ ˈkärd-​ˌbȯr-​dē How to pronounce cardboardy (audio) \ adjective

Examples of cardboard in a Sentence

Noun Cover the windows with cardboard. Adjective The play had cardboard characters.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But at least they probably won’t be made of cardboard. — Nick Talbot, ExpressNews.com, "Talbot: NFL must get creative as it plans its season," 7 May 2020 To spray paint small fasteners, such as screws, nails, bolts, cup hooks and screw eyes, try this trick: Stick them into a sheet of cardboard. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "10 Smart Spray Painting Tips for a Great-Looking Paint Job," 26 Apr. 2020 Start by crafting an egg, either by drawing, painting, or cutting one out of cardboard. — Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, "Neighborhoods are Hosting Virtual Egg Hunts to Celebrate Easter—Here’s How You Can Participate," 2 Apr. 2020 Have child use Twisteez wire, string, and scraps of cardboard to create their own hanging mobile. — Emma Bazilian, House Beautiful, "These Famous Artist-Inspired Projects Are Perfect for At-Home Learning," 24 Mar. 2020 In the other direction are Herber’s large pieces, whose rough treatment of cardboard echoes the destructiveness of earthquakes and volcanoes. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, "In the galleries: A pictorial stew examines the seamy side along the corridors of power," 6 Mar. 2020 The life-size monkeys are made entirely of cardboard — all 80 of them — by Connecticut artist James Grashow. — Johanna Seltz, BostonGlobe.com, "Fuller Craft Museum’s new exhibit is a barrel of monkeys," 31 Jan. 2020 The mattresses, which are not made of cardboard and can be adjusted for firmness, will also be recycled into plastic products. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, "Athletes Will Be Sleeping on Cardboard Bed Frames at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," 9 Jan. 2020 But starving to death while stuck to a piece of cardboard is not a great or humane way to go. — Mary Beth Griggs, Popular Science, "How to get rid of mice," 18 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective There's no equivalent of the shoddy, cardboard cutout effect seen in that Hendrix clip, or in other hit-and-miss footage from 3D movies or television. — Erik Sofge, Popular Mechanics, "Why 3D Doesn't Work for TV, But Is Great for Gaming: Analysis," 11 Mar. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cardboard.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cardboard

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for cardboard

Time Traveler

The first known use of cardboard was in 1831

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Statistics for cardboard

Last Updated

24 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cardboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardboard. Accessed 3 Jun. 2020.

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More Definitions for cardboard

cardboard

noun
How to pronounce cardboard (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cardboard

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a stiff and thick kind of paper that is used especially for making boxes

cardboard

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of cardboard (Entry 2 of 2)

: made out of cardboard
: not acting or seeming real : having an obviously false or fake quality

See the full definition for cardboard in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cardboard

noun
card·​board | \ ˈkärd-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce cardboard (audio) \

Kids Definition of cardboard

: a stiff thick kind of paper used especially to make boxes

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More from Merriam-Webster on cardboard

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cardboard

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with cardboard

Spanish Central: Translation of cardboard

Nglish: Translation of cardboard for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of cardboard for Arabic Speakers

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