card

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
2
cards plural in form but singular or plural in construction
a
: a game played with cards
b
: card playing
3
a
: something (such as an advantage) compared to a valuable playing card in one's hand
holding all the cards in negotiations
b
: an issue especially with emotional appeal that is brought into play to achieve a desired end (such as winning a political campaign)
played the race card
4
a
: greeting card
a birthday card
b
: a flat stiff usually small and rectangular piece of material (such as paper, cardboard, or plastic) usually bearing information: such as
(1)
(2)
(4)
: one bearing a picture (as of a baseball player) on one side and usually statistical data on the other
(5)
: one on which computer information is stored (as in the form of punched holes or magnetic encoding)
(6)
: one bearing electronic circuit components for insertion into a larger electronic device (such as a computer)
c
: program
especially : a sports program
three fights on the card
d(1)
: a wine list
(2)
: menu
5
informal + old-fashioned : a usually clownishly amusing person : wag
He's such a card!
6

card

2 of 5

verb (1)

carded; carding; cards

transitive verb

1
: to ask for identification (as in a bar)
We all got carded.
2
: score
a golfer carding a 75
3
: to place or fasten on or by means of a card
4
: to provide with a card
5
: to list or record on a card

card

3 of 5

verb (2)

carded; carding; cards

transitive verb

: to cleanse, disentangle, and collect together (fibers) by the use of cards preparatory to spinning
carder noun

card

4 of 5

noun (2)

1
: an instrument or machine for carding fibers that consists usually of bent wire teeth set closely in rows in a thick piece of leather fastened to a back
2
: an implement for raising a nap on cloth

card

5 of 5

abbreviation

Phrases
in the cards or less commonly on the cards
: inevitable
success just wasn't in the cards for her

Examples of card in a Sentence

Noun (1) the diners asked if there were any specials on the card for the evening you're really a card, but save the jokes for after class
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Beck cards a 29-30, 13 under, to match Al Geiberger’s second round of the 1977 Memphis Classic. 1992 — Deion Sanders, plays for Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Braves (Baseball) on the same day. 2009 — Kurt Warner passes for 301 yards in Arizona’s 28-21 win over Houston. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 Sarah Lim, Saratoga golf: Posted two excellent performances, carding a 2-under 35 at Coyote Creek in a win over Los Gatos and a 4-under 30 in a win over Milpitas at Saratoga Country Club. Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
Where digital infrastructure is robust, labor costs are high and card payments are common, self-checkouts not only reduce costs but also enhance the customer experience. Mustafa Khanwala, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 The card and gift retailer recalled about 11,000 of the ornaments over mold concerns. Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for card 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English carde, from Anglo-French, alteration of Middle French carte, probably from Old Italian carta, literally, leaf of paper, from Latin charta leaf of papyrus, from Greek chartēs

Noun (2)

Middle English carde, from Medieval Latin cardus, carduus, thistle, carding instrument, from Latin carduus thistle — more at chard

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of card was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near card

Cite this Entry

“Card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/card. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

card

1 of 4 verb
: to clean and untangle fibers by combing with a card before spinning
carder noun

card

2 of 4 noun
: an instrument usually having bent wire teeth for combing fibers (as wool or cotton)

card

3 of 4 noun
1
2
plural
a
: a game played with cards
b
: card playing
3
informal : an amusing person : wag
used especially in the past
4
: a flat stiff usually small and rectangular piece of paper, thin cardboard, or plastic: as
a
b
: such a card on which computer information is stored
5
: a sports program
6
: a removable circuit board (as in a personal computer)

card

4 of 4 verb
1
: to provide with a card
2
: to ask for identification
Etymology

Noun

Middle English carde "instrument for combing fibers," from Latin cardus, carduus "instrument for combing fibers, thistle," from earlier Latin carduus "thistle"

Noun

Middle English carde "playing card," from early French carte (same meaning), probably from early Italian carta, literally, "leaf of paper," from Latin charta "piece of papyrus" — related to carton, cartoon, chart

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