card
(kɑːʳd )
Word forms: cards
1. countable noun A2
A card is a piece of stiff paper or thin cardboard on which something is written or printed.
Check the numbers below against the numbers on your card.
2. countable noun [usually noun NOUN] B1
A card is a piece of cardboard or plastic, or a small document, which shows information about you and which you carry with you, for example to prove your identity.
They check my bag and press card.
...her membership card.
The authorities have begun to issue ration cards.
3. countable noun B1
A card is a rectangular piece of plastic, issued by a bank, company, or shop, which you can use to buy things or obtain money.
He paid the whole bill with an American Express card.
Holiday-makers should beware of using plastic cards in foreign cash dispensers.
4. countable noun A2
A card is a folded piece of stiff paper with a picture and sometimes a message printed on it, which you send to someone on a special occasion.
She sends me a card on my birthday.
...millions of get-well cards.
5. countable noun A2
A card is the same as a postcard.
Send your details on a card to the following address.
6. countable noun [oft poss NOUN] B1+
A card is a piece of thin cardboard carried by someone such as a business person in order to give to other people. A card shows the name, address, phone number, and other details of the person who carries it. [business]
Here's my card. You may need me.
7. countable noun [usually plural] A2
Cards are thin pieces of cardboard with numbers or pictures printed on them which are used to play various games.
...a pack of cards.
Kurt picked up his hand and fanned out the cards one by one.
8. uncountable noun A2
If you are playing cards, you are playing a game using cards.
A group of officers was sitting round a table in the sun playing cards.
9. countable noun
You can use card to refer to something that gives you an advantage in a particular situation. If you play a particular card, you use that advantage.
It was his strongest card in their relationship–that she wanted him more than he wanted her.
This permitted Western manufacturers to play their strong cards: capital and technology.
10. uncountable noun B2
Card is strong, stiff paper or thin cardboard.
She put the pieces of card in her pocket.
11. countable noun B1+
In computing, a card is a circuit board that can be put into a computer to provide additional memory or functions. [computing]
12. countable noun [oft on NOUN]
You can use card to refer to a series of races or matches at a particular sporting event.
Paradise Boy and the Galloping General have clear chances in the opening two events on the card.
13. verb
If you are carded, someone in authority asks you to show a document to prove that you are old enough to do something, for example, to buy or drink alcohol. [US]
For the first time in many years, I got carded. [be VERB-ed]
14. See also bank card, business card, calling card, cash card, cheque card, Christmas card, credit card, debit card, gold card, identity card, index card, payment card, place card, playing card, report card, smart card, wild card
15. on the cards phrase
If you say that something is on the cards in British English, or in the cards in American English, you mean that it is very likely to happen.
Last summer she began telling friends that a New Year marriage was on the cards.
16. to play your cards right phrase
If you say that someone will achieve success if they play their cards right, you mean that they will achieve success if they act skilfully and use the advantages that they have.
You're looking for fun and romance and, if you play your cards right, you may just get it.
17. to put your cards on the table phrase
If you put or lay your cards on the table, you deal with a situation by speaking openly about your feelings, ideas, or plans.
Put your cards on the table and be very clear about your complaints.
Image of card
© kuroksta, Shutterstock
Idioms:
a hole card [mainly US]
something that you keep secret or hidden until you are ready to use it to gain an advantage over other people
The fact that I knew where she was and had in my possession a boxful of evidence were my only two remaining hole cards.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
a wild card
someone or something that causes doubt, because nobody knows how they will behave or what effects they will have
I was always a bit uneasy about him; I liked him, but he was a bit of a wild card.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
a calling card
something that someone possesses or has achieved, that gives them a lot of opportunities
He says the actor used the New York magazine cover story about him as `his calling card'.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
play your trump card
to do something unexpected which gives you a definite advantage over other people
If she wished, she could threaten to play her trump card, publishing an autobiography of embarrassing disclosures.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
a trump card
something which gives you a definite advantage over other people
Only two days into the strike, the distribution of goods was suffering: and that, ultimately is the railwaymen's trump card.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
card hand card holder card issuer card number card purchase carry a card collect a card deal a card deck of cards electronic card exchange cards fake card holiday card insert a card membership card online card pack of cards pay by card plastic card prepaid card read a card recipe card reward card send a card sign a card stack of cards steal a card stolen card sympathy card telephone card thank-you card
Each player must make their best five card hand out of the eight cards available.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Play began with a one card hand, went up to 13, then back down to one for a total of 25 hands.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
That person starts their turn by drawing cards from the draw pile to make their five card hand.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Wallet cards handed to arriving tourists explain that conch, grouper and snapper should be boycotted.
Times, Sunday Times
Former players and current pros fear the new rules could plunge the sport into chaos, with yellow and red cards handed out like confetti.
The Sun
They should cut rates for struggling customers rather than hiking them, pushing the card holder into default so the lender could lose the whole debt.
The Sun
Under the scheme, each time a loyalty card holder buys produce it contributes towards lower fuel prices.
Times, Sunday Times
I assumed that only the amount approved by the card holder could be deducted.
Times, Sunday Times
Without a signal, the cars won't lock or unlock because they can't check the identity of the card holder.
Times, Sunday Times
A few minutes later a member of staff asked for the date of birth of the card holder.
Times, Sunday Times
Credit card purchases come with the safeguard that if a supplier fails to deliver, you can turn to your card issuer for a refund.
ST
Talk to your card issuer if you have problems making repayments.
Times, Sunday Times
You'll need a statement of over-charges from your card issuer which might cost a small fee.
The Sun
Make sure you tell your card issuer or face your card being blocked and you being left high and dry.
The Sun
Donations made by credit card are deductible in the year the donor makes the donation by giving an irrevocable instruction to the credit card issuer.
Christianity Today
Now match the card number to the numbered meanings below.
The Sun
Yes, as it happened, he could fit us in, but he would need my credit card number.
Times, Sunday Times
Write your name, address and cheque guarantee card number on the back of your cheque.
The Sun
Use the coupon to order by post, sending a crossed cheque or postal order (name and address on back), or quoting credit card number.
Times, Sunday Times
The package included her debit card number, security code, expiry date, mobile phone number and postal address.
Times, Sunday Times
Qualifying gift card purchase required.
The Sun
The bank will automatically round up every debit card purchase to the nearest pound, then transfer the difference from the customer's current account to their savings account.
Times, Sunday Times
The purchaser of the charity gift card creates the donor advised fund with the charity gift card purchase money.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Some suppliers claim that transactions can be almost twice as fast as a conventional cash, credit, or debit card purchase.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
They are accumulated instead on everyday credit card purchases in supermarkets and petrol stations.
Times, Sunday Times
All coaches carry a card with the different combinations that can be legally utilised.
Times, Sunday Times
Most of us - nine out of ten - say we'd be happy to carry a card.
The Sun
In other words, if you don't want to carry a card, that's your choice.
Times, Sunday Times
Those without a smartphone could opt to carry a card.
Times, Sunday Times
Apparently, its rule that passengers with e-tickets must carry the card with which they paid combats fraud most effectively.
Times, Sunday Times
They would then send someone to collect the card, often using ordinary minicab firms.
Times, Sunday Times
The confidence tricksters pose as staff from the victims' bank and send fake couriers to collect their cards and details.
Times, Sunday Times
The player who won the hand or trick collects the cards played in this trick and plays first in next hand/trick.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The person with the highest card on the trick collects the cards and makes the first play for the next trick.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A distribution mechanism could then use the diameter information and take the appropriate action to deal the card to the correct player.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Your gifted tarot reader will deal the cards that reveal what the future holds for you - as you have a confidential one-to-one reading.
The Sun
Deal the cards and see how it works.
Times, Sunday Times
But there are people who have not been dealt the cards we've had.
The Sun
Here, we look at some of the best credit card deals available.
The Sun
Memorising a deck of cards used to take the champion 2½ minutes.
Times, Sunday Times
I could shuffle the pages like a deck of cards.
Times, Sunday Times
He has brought a deck of cards, to show off a couple of the tricks that he will use in his audition.
Times, Sunday Times
Using a deck of cards and an integrated app, you have to collaborate to escape in less than an hour.
Times,Sunday Times
Take the deck of cards and hold it in your right hand in preparation for an overhand shuffle (1).
Times, Sunday Times
He introduced an electronic card so that staff could clock in and out.
Times, Sunday Times
There would be few arguments at the proposed rubbish weigh-ins if rewards, such as credits to an electronic card, were on offer.
Times, Sunday Times
An alternative version, in which companies could charge motorists directly through toll booths or electronic card readers, has been ruled out.
Times, Sunday Times
A more radical, and less politically palatable, option would be for companies to charge motorists directly through toll booths or electronic card readers.
Times, Sunday Times
His electronic card was stolen and used to open security doors.
Times, Sunday Times
They didn't even exchange cards.
The Sun
They must not exchange cards more than once in each round, but they can either refuse to buy any quantity up to five.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The receiver may choose to exchange cards with the dealer, unless the dealer has a king in which case no exchange occurs.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The participants reconvene and exchange cards, and form two circles, one subgroup inside the other, both of them facing inwards.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
But some use 3 cards to make a kiddy which the winning bidder gets to exchange cards with and 2 are left sleeping or unused.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
They then used the details to make unauthorised purchases with a fake card.
The Sun
High street transactions involving fake cards have also fallen, with the 135.9 million stolen in 2005, dropping to 73 million last year.
Times, Sunday Times
Other members of the network used magnetic stripe encoders, widely available on the internet, to put the stolen information onto fake cards.
Times, Sunday Times
And if you're worried you won't be able to stick to a budget, several companies now offer a new 'holiday card' which can be loaded with cash before you go.
The Sun
Seven holiday cards failed to stage a single race with a prize fund of 10,000.
Times, Sunday Times
Donors were often given small souvenir gratitude gifts of negligible value, somewhat similar to the way modern charities mail out address labels and holiday cards.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The staff grew from 4 to 120 people, and the line increased from holiday cards to include everyday greeting cards.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
For example, two people may never speak for an entire year, but will continue sending holiday cards to that acquaintance or a stranger from whom they receive cards.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
They should really let you insert your card yourself, to prevent bad guys stealing the details of your card.
Times, Sunday Times
Insert a card with stereo images —a “view”—and presto!
Smithsonian Mag
To insert the card into packs of cigarettes the two end panels were folded over the center panel.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
To make a payment the cardholder inserts the card into a retailer's terminal holding their thumb on the sensor on the top right-hand corner of the card.
Times, Sunday Times
The 5080 featured the standard anti-vandal smoked perspex screen which covered the keypad and screen until the cardholder inserted their card.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Don't rip up that membership card just yet.
Times, Sunday Times
Simply show your membership card on the day to claim one.
Times, Sunday Times
Just book your table as usual, and show your membership card at the restaurant.
Times, Sunday Times
Simply show your membership card when paying for your items.
Times, Sunday Times
Culture+ members will also receive free popcorn when they show their membership card.
Times, Sunday Times
As with the picture on her online card, she always wears bright colours so people can see her.
The Sun
Major online card rooms forbid the use of software that gives a player an unfair advantage.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Note that this refers to games in which one purchases (or redeems codes for) online cards.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Life's origins could involve a rare fluke - like shuffling a pack of cards into a perfect order.
Times, Sunday Times
Take a pack of cards: put them in sequence.
Times, Sunday Times
Then the walls of the house folded like a 'pack of cards'.
The Sun
The world record for memorising a pack of cards has gone from 150 seconds to 21 seconds.
Times, Sunday Times
If you don't maintain balance it will all tumble down like a pack of cards, so allow time for you.
The Sun
After reading the instructions on the tariff board, we decided we would pay by card, so rang the automated line.
The Sun
A sneaky new way to get people to pay by card?
Times, Sunday Times
Just remember to take some cash, as you can't pay by card.
The Sun
When you pay by card, you should be given the option of paying a bill in the local currency or in pounds.
Times, Sunday Times
Taxpayers who choose to pay by card will have to pay a fee to cover the cost of handling the payment.
Times, Sunday Times
For most of my lifetime, there have been three possible answers to that question: cash, a cheque or a plastic card.
Times, Sunday Times
Someone had shoved a plastic card in the door and given it a push.
The Times Literary Supplement
One envelope clearly contained a plastic card.
Times, Sunday Times
Products and deals can be priced and paid for in gold at the swipe of a plastic card.
Times, Sunday Times
When the cards are placed in the shoe, the dealer will insert a blank plastic card, such as the red one seen in the photo.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Topping up a prepaid card with money now and then is an ideal solution.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A prepaid currency card is an increasingly popular way to spend money abroad.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One of the best ways to avoid unnecessary charges is to use a pre-paid card.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Three times she tried to read the card, only to be blocked by her emotion.
Christianity Today
Next, use a computer to read the card or download the file.
Times, Sunday Times
The athlete's lawyers made him read the card, as he emerged from five days of gruelling cross-examination.
Times, Sunday Times
Usually every card will be smooth; however, some packs have braille to allow blind people to read the card number and suit.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
They are not allowed to read the card, wearing it on their foreheads for others to see.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
There will be one recipe card in store each day.
The Sun
The series runs over five days, with a glossy, two-dish recipe card daily.
The Sun
There will be one recipe card.
The Sun
You supply the core ingredients — onions, chicken, rice — and each recipe card has a detachable shopping list.
Times, Sunday Times
She invented the detachable recipe card for that magazine (see the biographical link below, supplied by her publisher).
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
It found that 33 were more expensive using the reward card than without, with an average mark-up of 11 per cent.
Times, Sunday Times
It says that you did not respond when it originally told you about the changes, but it will offer you another reward card.
Times, Sunday Times
Other deals are available to reward card holders.
Times, Sunday Times
Food bought with points on reward card.
Times, Sunday Times
Other reward cards are also cashing in on the summer season.
Times, Sunday Times
But when we didn't send a card for his son's birthday, he called and asked why.
The Sun
Instead, send a card and a cheque, and invite them for a lower-key catch-up.
Times,Sunday Times
She didn't send a card or gift when it was his birthday.
The Sun
So send that card, write a two-line email, repeat that off-hand compliment.
Times, Sunday Times
Just one in six of us now send a card, against 60 per cent who text and 39 per cent who call home.
The Sun
However, before he could sign his card, he was informed of a potential rules violation on the par-five 12th hole and was driven off in a buggy to investigate.
Times, Sunday Times
Last year 75 percent of our worship attenders signed a card stating their time commitment for the year.
Christianity Today
He hadn't signed his card and under the rules was disqualified.
Times, Sunday Times
After signing his card, he was walking down by the side of the 18th fairway.
Times, Sunday Times
They are displayed near the cash register and are free to any driver who signs a card.
Christianity Today
There's something uneven, erratic, unsatisfying and deeply profound in the stack of cards he throws at us in the form of his films.
Times, Sunday Times
With a standard second-class stamp now 53p, the cost of sending a stack of cards to folk you haven't heard from in the past 12 months can really add up.
The Sun
The stack of cards was hot because it was currently being processed.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Each player in turn, starting with the one to the dealer's left, takes a stack of cards from the top of the pile.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Students receive a stack of cards containing either pictures or words that have several types of contrasting sounds, patterns, or meanings.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The reason they tried to steal my card was probably to use it in future with rewritten information from freshly skimmed cards.
ST
Beware of pickpockets who may shoulder surf you, steal your card and replace it without you noticing.
Times, Sunday Times
If the chips are of an opponent's, one can steal the card by equalling or bettering the number of chips already on that card.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A player's turn continues until he/she fails to steal a card.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
When a new one was posted, they stole the card.
Times, Sunday Times
It sells stolen card numbers in packages that often contain additional sensitive information about an individual.
Times, Sunday Times
Fraudsters would use a stolen card - or card details - to purchase laptops online, sometimes several at a time.
Times, Sunday Times
The first, mn0g0.su, has about 20,000 stolen card details.
Times, Sunday Times
They can also make online payments using stolen card details bought on the dark web or obtained through data leaks.
Times,Sunday Times
The rise of contactless payments has made it easy for card thieves to make a few small transactions with a stolen card very quickly.
Times,Sunday Times
He describes his childhood as 'rough', yet refuses to play the sympathy card and describes acting as a last resort for a troubled soul.
Times, Sunday Times
I sent a sympathy card instead.
The Sun
He sent her a sympathy card and a gold chain, according to documents filed with the board.
Globe and Mail
This sick sympathy card was the culmination of his hate campaign.
The Sun
Others took the form of hoax party invitations, sympathy cards or birth announcements.
Times, Sunday Times
She would then have been given an information pack on the jail plus a 2 telephone card to allow her to make calls to family and friends.
Times, Sunday Times
The limited editions included the book itself and a telephone card; the second novel also received a version with a poster included instead.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
In addition, they receive 12,500 postage stamps, stationery and a telephone card.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The person who finds the letter gets the telephone card.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The band are also notable as being the first band to be pictured on a telephone card.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Which still leaves us with the problem of the thank-you card.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The lady sent a thank-you card back to me with some pictures of her son.
The Sun (2012)
After her wedding we received no thank-you card for the present we gave.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Translations:
Chinese: 卡片, 卡片, 扑克牌
Japanese: カード, カード, トランプ
- determined largely by
- determined leadership
- determined look
- determinedly
- determined opposition
- determined solely by
- determine eligibility
- determine guilt
- determine precisely
- determiner
- determine the accuracy of
- determine the amount
- determine the basis
- determine the cause
- determine the composition of
- determine the density of
- determine the depth of
- determine the difference between
- determine the effect
- determine the extent of
- determine the fate of
- determine the future
- determine the length of
- determine the level of
- determine the origin of