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card

card

∞ 1.0
A small rectangular piece of plastic or cardboard for showing identity and for paying
  • noun
  • /kɑrd/
: tarjeta
  • He played a card from his hand, hoping to win the round.
  • credit card
  • debit card
  • ID card

You made me sign the card secretly.

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Examples

  • For 1 minute, the RA showed cards to the students in a round-robin format.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Participants each received a $25 gift card to a local grocery store in appreciation for their time.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I will draw a card in honor of you.

  • So I know the suit of the card, how many?

  • Each pair contains a big card and a low card.

  • If we're going to play cards, let's play cards.

  • Do you have my card?

  • Yes, I'm calling because my credit card has been compromised.

  • The counselor reviews the daily behavior report card and calculates the percentage of points earned.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Please hand me the card so I can call you later.

Idioms

17 7.8

To bring up race or accuse someone of racism to get support

3 8.5

To pretend to be treated unfairly to get sympathy or avoid blame

1 8.0

To mention someone's gender to gain an advantage in a discussion

1 8.3

To warn someone so they are ready for what will happen

1 9.9

To claim someone was raped to get sympathy or advantage

8.4

To mention being a woman or man to avoid blame and get sympathy

Compounds

787 1.0

A small plastic card from a bank that lets you buy things now and pay later

84 1.0

A small printed card showing a person's name, job, company, and contact details

67 3.4

An official card that allows a foreign person to live and work permanently in the United States

A card sent at Christmas with a greeting and a picture

54 1.5

A paper from a school that shows a student's grades

51 1.4

A card with money on it that you can use to buy things at one store or group of stores

44 5.0

A person or thing that is unpredictable and can change the result

40 1.8

A small card with a baseball player's photo and game numbers that people collect

40 1.1

A game played with playing cards, for example poker, that often needs skill or luck

Money a person owes because they used a credit card to buy things

32 1.6

A plastic card you use to pay or withdraw money from your bank account

30 1.0

A decorated card sent with a personal message for a special occasion

23 1.0

A card you give or send to someone with birthday wishes

22 1.0

A small official card that lets you borrow books and use library services

21 7.6

A card with pictures and symbols used to tell the future or play special card games

17 4.1

A typical action or sign that helps people notice who someone is

15 5.6

A chance to avoid punishment or trouble

calling card
  • Archaic
14 6.0

A small card with a person's name left to show they visited

14 3.2

A card that lets you buy things and must be paid in full each month

14 2.6

A small folding table used for playing card games

14 2.8

A trick that uses playing cards to entertain people

phone card
  • Archaic
14 2.1

A small card you buy to pay for phone calls from public phones or when traveling

14 1.0

A small flat piece of thick paper with numbers or pictures used in games

13 1.4

A plastic card from a bank used to pay without cash and get money from cash machines

12 1.7

A small paper card with words or pictures shown quickly to help you learn

11 3.8

A strong advantage that gives someone a winning edge

A card that shows you belong to a club or group

9 3.8

A playing card a player can use to represent any other card

9 2.0

A person who plays games with cards like poker or bridge

8 1.0

A card sent by mail without an envelope, often with a picture on one side

identity card
  • Formal
8 1.3

An official card with your name and photo that shows who you are

7 2.4

A small card with a picture that people collect and swap

7 2.6

A punishment in sports like football that sends a player off the field for a serious foul

A card sent to someone who is ill to wish them a quick recovery

punch card
  • Archaic
6 7.4

A stiff card with holes that show information used by old computers

smart card
  • Specialized
6 3.7

A small plastic card with a chip that stores money or ID

5 3.0

An official card showing someone belongs to a labor union

graphics card
  • Specialized
5 3.2

A small part inside a computer that makes images and video look better

calling card
  • Archaic
5 3.9

A prepaid card used to pay for phone calls from public phones

4 3.3

A card carried to show that a person wants to give their organs after death

A card sent to someone to show you are sorry after a death

4 2.6

A bank card that lets you get money from an ATM or pay in shops

card catalog
  • Archaic
4 3.7

A set of paper cards in drawers that lists library books and where to find them

card shark
  • Informal
4 8.2

A person who is very good at playing cards and cheats to win

3 4.0

A government card that lets you buy limited goods like food or fuel during shortages

3 2.8

A playing card with a picture of a king, queen, or jack

A street trick with three cards that makes people lose money

hole card
  • Jargon
2 7.7

A card dealt face down to a player in poker

1 2.1

A card passengers show before they get on a plane or ship

1 1.9

A card with a grid of numbers that players mark in bingo

1 4.2

A person or thing that attracts many people to a place

1 8.1

A secret advantage saved to use later

ace card
  • Informal
1 4.7

A strong advantage kept for an important moment to help win

card sharp
  • Informal
1 9.3

A person who cheats at card games to win money

1 3.0

A person who often plays card games for fun or money

1 9.6

A person who cheats at card games to win money from other players

punched card
  • Archaic
1 8.4

A stiff piece of paper with holes that holds data for old computers

1 2.6

A playing card with a picture of a person, like a jack, queen or king

1 8.5

A card sent to someone who lost a loved one saying a Mass will be said for them

card index
  • Archaic
1 4.4

A set of cards that people arrange in alphabetical order to list and find items like books

1 3.5

A playing card used for betting games like poker

1 1.0

A card you send to wish someone a happy Easter

visiting card
  • Archaic
1 6.4

A small card with a person's name and sometimes address left to announce their visit

circuit card
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A board with electronic parts that you insert into a computer to add functions like graphics or wireless

1 1.8

A card you send through the mail without an envelope

show card
  • Archaic
1 4.6

A poster that advertises a play or concert

idiot card
  • Slang
1 9.0

To admit you made a stupid mistake in a joking way

rape card
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To claim you were sexually attacked to gain sympathy or avoid blame

Hollerith card
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A stiff paper card with holes used to record information for early computers

1 3.7

A playing card from the special suit chosen that beats cards of other suits

compass card
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A round disc on a compass that turns so its north mark points to magnetic north

trading card
  • Jargon
1 3.5

A digital card people collect, buy, and use in online games

1 3.0

A card that lets you take books and other items out of a library for a short time

How Sturdy

metal
889 1.1
plastic
  • Informal
10 2.3
card
∞ 1.0
slip of paper
11 1.1

Surface Forms

card singular
cards plural

Etymology

Card comes from the old word charta meaning 'paper', the same root as chart. So a card is simply a small piece of paper, cardboard, or plastic used for games, messages, ID, payment, or as a computer part.