adj
cardinal
KAHD-nuhl
adj
1
Of central or fundamental importance.
"Honesty is a cardinal rule in this office."
2
Deep red in color, like a Catholic cardinal's robes.
"She wore a cardinal red dress to the gala."
noun
1
A senior official of the Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope.
"The cardinals gathered in Rome to elect a new pope."
2
A North American songbird known for the male's bright red feathers.
"A cardinal landed on the feeder outside the kitchen window."
How to Use Cardinal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething of central importance, a deep red color, a high-ranking Catholic official, or a red North American songbird.
Common pairings
cardinal rule
cardinal sin
cardinal directions
Word Forms
more cardinal comparative, Cardinals plural, Cardinals plural, most cardinal superlative
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Honesty is a _____ rule in this office.
Etymology
From Latin cardinalis, "pertaining to a hinge," from cardo, "hinge" — something a cardinal rule or point everything else "turns" on.