card1

Pronunciation: /kɑːd/

Definition of card

1a piece of thick, stiff paper or thin pasteboard, in particular one used for writing or printing on:some notes jotted down on a card [mass noun]:a piece of card
a card printed with a picture and used to send a message or greeting:a birthday card
a card with a person’s name and other details printed on it for purposes of identification, for example a business card: a membership card entitled you to library services she dug into her bag and produced her card
(in soccer and some other games) a yellow or red card shown by the referee to a player who is being cautioned or sent off:the ref will have his cards at the ready to enforce the rule of law

2a small rectangular piece of plastic containing personal data in a machine-readable form and used to obtain cash or credit or to pay for a telephone call, gain entry to a room or building, etc.: your card cannot be used to withdraw more than your daily limit from cash machines she paid for the goods with her card

3a playing card:a pack of cards
(cards) a game played with playing cards: they were playing interminable cards

5 (cards) British informal documents relating to an employee, especially for tax and national insurance, held by the employer.

7 informal, dated a person regarded as odd or amusing:He laughed: ‘You’re a card, you know’

[with object]

1write (something) on a card, especially for indexing.
informal (in golf and other sports) score (a certain number of points on a scorecard):he carded 68 in the final round
(of the referee in soccer and some other games) show a yellow or red card to (a player who is being cautioned or sent off):Reid, seconds after being carded, broke down the left wing a Mac flanker was carded and sent to the sin bin in the first half

2North American check the identity card of (someone), in particular as evidence of legal drinking age: we were carded at the entrance to the club

3 (be carded) Canadian (of an amateur athlete) be in receipt of government funding to pursue training: in 1986-7 all carded athletes received a basic $450 monthly allowance

Phrases

a card up one's sleeve: a plan or asset that is kept secret until it is needed: the alliances have been the key card up our sleeve
get one's cards: British informal be dismissed from one’s employment: he got his cards on his 50th birthday
give someone their cards: British informal dismiss someone from employment: the firm has just given 74,000 workers their cards
hold all the cards: be in a very strong or advantageous position: he held all the cards and made all the decisions
on (or North American in) the cards: British informal possible or likely:our marriage has been on the cards from day one
play (or use) the —— card: exploit the specified issue or idea mentioned, especially for political advantage:he resisted the temptation to play the race card the government tried to play the nationalist card
play one's cards right: make the best use of one’s assets and opportunities: you have a chance of success if you play your cards right
put (or lay) one's cards on the table: be completely open and honest in declaring one’s resources, intentions, or attitude: I would have a confrontation with him and put my cards on the table

late Middle English (in sense 3 of the noun): from Old French carte, from Latin carta, charta, from Greek khartēs 'papyrus leaf'

Definition of card in the US English dictionary