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postcard

postcard

184 1.0
A card with a picture that you send by mail with a short message
  • noun
  • /ˈpoʊstˌkɑrd/
translation icon : postal
  • During her vacation in Italy, she sent me a beautiful postcard with a picture of the Colosseum.
  • send a postcard
  • picture postcard
  • reminder postcard

Josh Rubin, I've been getting your postcards forever.

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Examples

Synonyms

picture postcard
vspostcard
3 3.2

A small card with a photo of a place that you send to someone

is broader and can include plain images or simple designs
post card
vspostcard
1 1.0

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

is the same concept but written as one word here
mailing-card
vspostcard
2.7

A card sent by mail without an envelope that has a message

focuses more on images and short messages than design for mailing
postal card
vspostcard
1.8

A card you send through the mail without an envelope

is the general printed card sold commercially rather than issued by authorities
lettercard
vspostcard
  • Archaic
8.0

A folded card that you write inside and seal before mailing

is the flat single-sided card for brief messages sent without an envelope

Idioms

A way of asking people to send a short reply by postcard, often joking

Compounds

A small card with a photo of a place that you send to someone

1 2.5

A paper card from long ago with a picture and a short message

How Big

billboard
  • US
167 1.3
poster
304 1.0
photographic print
  • Specialized
1 3.1
postcard
184 1.0

Surface Forms

postcard singular
postcards plural

Morphology

postcard = post + card (transparent) = post + card

The meaning is a literal combination: a card that is sent through the post, so learners knowing 'post' and 'card' can readily infer it.

Etymology

Postcard comes from two simple parts: post, meaning 'mail', and card, meaning 'a piece of thick paper'. So a postcard is a card you send by mail, often with a picture on one side and a short message on the back.