card

Universal Words noun, verb noun paper 1 [U] (BrE) thick stiff paper: a piece of card * The model of the building was made of card. with information 2 [C] a small piece of stiff paper or plastic with information on it, especially information about sb's identity: a membership card * an appointment card seealsoGREENCARD, IDENTITYCARD, PLACECARD, REDCARD, REPORTCARD, YELLOWCARD 3 [C] = BUSINESSCARD: Here's my card if you need to contact me again. 4 [C] = VISITINGCARD for money 5 [C] a small piece of plastic, especially one given by a bank or shop/store, used for buying things or obtaining money: I put the meal on (= paid for it using) my card. * a phone card seealsoCASHCARD, CHARGECARD, CHEQUECARD, CREDITCARD, SMARTCARD, SWIPECARD with greetings 6 [C] a piece of stiff paper that is folded in the middle and has a picture on the front of it, used for sending sb a greeting, an invitation, etc: a birthday / get-well / good luck card * a card shop / store seealsoCHRISTMASCARD, GREETINGSCARD 7 [C] = POSTCARD: Did you get my card from Italy? in games 8 [C] = PLAYINGCARD: Let's have a game of cards. * (BrE) a pack of cards * (AmE) a deck of cards seealsoTRUMPCARD, WILDCARD 9 (cards) [pl.] a game or games in which playing cards are used: Who wants to play cards? * I've never been very good at cards. * She won ｣20 at cards. computing 10 [C] a small device containing an electronic CIRCUIT that is part of a computer or added to it, enabling it to perform particular functions: a printed circuit card * a graphics / network / sound card person 11 [C] (old-fashioned, informal) an unusual or amusing person horse races 12 [C] a list of all the races at a particular RACEMEETING (= a series of horse races): a race card for wool / cotton 13 [C] (technical) a machine or tool used for cleaning and combing wool or cotton before it is spun IDIOMS sb's best / strongest / winning card something that gives sb an advantage over other people in a particular situation get your cards (BrE, informal) to be told to leave a job give sb their cards (BrE, informal) to make sb leave their job have a card up your sleeve to have an idea, a plan, etc. that will give you an advantage in a particular situation and that you keep secret until it is needed hold all the cards (informal) to be able to control a particular situation because you have an advantage over other people hold / keep / play your cards close to your chest to keep your ideas, plans, etc. secret lay / put your cards on the table to tell sb honestly what your plans, ideas, etc. are on the cards (BrE) (AmE in the cards) (informal) likely to happen: The merger has been on the cards for some time now. play your cards right to deal successfully with a particular situation so that you achieve some advantage or sth that you want: If you play your cards right, the job could be yours when she leaves. moreatSHOWv., STACKED verb [VN] 1 (technical) to clean wool using a wire instrument 2 (AmE, informal) to ask a person to show their identity card as a means of checking how old they are, for example if they want to buy alcohol