Card

/kɑːrd/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonObject
3 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

A flat piece of stiff paper or thin pasteboard, often used for writing messages or printing information.

/kɑːrd/

nounneutralBeginner
Object

A piece of stiff paper or thin cardboard.

I sent a greeting card to my friend.

💡 Simply: A piece of paper.

More Examples

2

He showed me his ID card.

How It's Used

Everyday Life

"I received a birthday card in the mail."

Business

"He handed me his business card."

2

One of a set of rectangular pieces of stiff paper, each marked with different suits and numbers or pictures, used in games.

/kɑːrd/

nounneutralBeginner
Object

A playing card from a deck of cards.

The ace of spades is a powerful card.

💡 Simply: A playing card.

More Examples

2

She shuffled the cards before dealing.

How It's Used

Games

"He dealt the cards for the poker game."

Tip:Think of a deck of cards – each one is a card.
3

To enter information onto a card or similar device.

/kɑːrd/

verbneutralIntermediate
Action

To record information on a card.

They carded the data for later analysis.

💡 Simply: To write on a card.

More Examples

2

The clerk carded the details of the transaction.

How It's Used

Data Entry

"He carefully carded all the new customer information."

Tip:Think of 'carding' wool - organizing and preparing data onto cards.

Idioms & expressions

get your cards marked

To be cheated or tricked.

"I think I got my cards marked in that deal."

From Old French *carte, from Latin *charta "paper made of papyrus or plant fibers".

The word 'card' has been used to refer to playing cards since the 14th century. Its usage for other types of cards developed later.

Memory tip

Think of a playing card – they're made of card.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"paper made from papyrus or plant fibers"

business cardcredit cardplaying cardgreeting cardmembership card

Common misspellings

caardcarde

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written