cardinal

Universal Words noun, adjective noun 1 a priest of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals elect and advise the POPE: Cardinal Hume 2 (also cardinal number) a number, such as 1, 2 and 3, used to show quantity rather than order compareORDINAL 3 a N American bird. The male cardinal is bright red. adjective [onlybeforenoun] (formal) most important; having other things based on it: Respect for life is a cardinal principle of English law.