card
kahd
Card (noun) means a small, flat piece of stiff paper or plastic, used for games, messages, payments, or identification. Example: “Each player was dealt a card and had to hide it from the others.”
noun
1
A small, flat piece of stiff paper or plastic, used for games, messages, payments, or identification.
"Each player was dealt a card and had to hide it from the others."
"She sent a birthday card to her grandmother."
"He paid with a card instead of cash."
verb
1
To check someone's identification to confirm their age.
"The security guard carded the young man at the door before letting him in."
"Shop assistants are asked to card anyone buying age-restricted goods who looks young."
"The bartender carded everyone who looked under thirty."
How to use card
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small flat piece of paper or plastic used for messages, games, payment, or ID — or (as a verb) to check someone's ID.
Common pairings
credit card
greeting card
get carded
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Word forms
- Plural
- cards
- Third person singular
- cards
- Past tense
- carded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Each player was dealt a _____ and had to hide it from the others.
Etymology
From Old French carte, from Latin charta, "paper," ultimately from Greek khartes, "papyrus" — the same root as "chart."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for card
See all rhymes for card →Frequently asked questions
What does “card” mean?
The word “card” means a small, flat piece of stiff paper or plastic, used for games, messages, payments, or identification. In plain terms, a small flat piece of paper or plastic used for messages, games, payment, or ID — or (as a verb) to check someone's ID.
How do you pronounce “card”?
“Card” is pronounced kahd (/kɑɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “card” in a sentence?
Here is “card” used in a sentence: “She sent a birthday card to her grandmother.”
What part of speech is “card”?
Depending on how it is used, “card” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “card” come from?
The word “card” comes from Latin. From Old French carte, from Latin charta, "paper," ultimately from Greek khartes, "papyrus" — the same root as "chart.".
Is “card” a common word?
“Card” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “card” have?
“Card” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, flat piece of stiff paper or plastic, used for games, messages, payments, or identification.
What are the types of cards?
The word covers several everyday items, including playing cards for games, greeting cards for birthdays and holidays, credit and debit cards for payments, identity and membership cards, and business cards. What they share is the format, a small, flat, stiff rectangle of paper or plastic, rather than a single purpose.
What is the difference between card and paper?
Card, also called cardstock, is simply thicker and stiffer than paper. Ordinary paper bends and folds easily, while card holds its shape, which is why it is used for playing cards, packaging, and greeting cards. There is no exact cut-off, but card is heavier and more rigid than a sheet of paper.
What is an example of a card?
A playing card is a familiar example, a small rectangle of stiff paper used in games. Other everyday examples include a birthday card, a bank card used to pay, a business card, and an ID card. Each is flat, stiff, and easily held or carried.
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