card
/kɑːd/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈɑrd] /kɑːrd/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈɑrd] /ˈkärd/ (ame, mw)
card — noun
- cardsingular
- cardsplural
1. a flat plastic or paper item that proves who you are or lets you pay, enter a pl
a flat plastic or paper item that proves who you are or lets you pay, enter a place, or use a service.
The nurse tapped her staff card to unlock the ward door.
tap a staff card to unlock + place
Yara paid for the train ticket with a bank card.
Please show your library card before you borrow another novel.
The receptionist asked Ilan for a hotel key card.
文法句型
pay by card
show your card
tap/swipe a card
用法筆記
Often appears with verbs such as 'show', 'tap', 'swipe', or 'use'. Distinguish from sense 6: sense 1 is for access, payment, or identity, while sense 6 is specifically for professional contact details.
2. one piece from a deck used in games, marked with a suit, number, or picture.
one piece from a deck used in games, marked with a suit, number, or picture.
Chidi drew the last card and won the round.
draw the last card
The queen card lay face up beside the chips.
Please put one card in the center of the table.
Mizuki hid the ace card inside a coat sleeve.
- playing card
more explicit but same basic meaning
文法句型
draw a card
turn over a card
ace/queen card
用法筆記
This sense names a single item from the deck. Distinguish from sense 3, which refers to the game or activity, not one piece in your hand.
3. games such as poker or bridge that are played with a pack of playing cards.
games such as poker or bridge that are played with a pack of playing cards.
My grandparents still play cards after dinner every Friday.
play cards after dinner
During the storm, the campers taught us a new game of cards.
Beatrix never learned how to play cards, so she watched the first round.
The club room opens for cards on Tuesday nights.
文法句型
play cards
good at cards
game of cards
用法筆記
Usually appears in the plural, especially after 'play' or 'good at'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about one physical card.
4. a folded paper message with a picture or printed words that you send for a birth
a folded paper message with a picture or printed words that you send for a birthday, holiday, or similar occasion.
Élise mailed a birthday card to her brother in Kaohsiung.
mail a birthday card to + person
Everyone in class signed the thank-you card for Ms Lin.
We bought a sympathy card after hearing about Christopher's loss.
The shop sold handmade holiday cards beside the wrapping paper.
- greeting card
more explicit label for the same type of card
文法句型
send a card
sign a card
birthday/sympathy card
用法筆記
Common with words naming the occasion, such as 'birthday', 'holiday', or 'sympathy'. Distinguish from sense 5: a greeting card is folded and usually sent in an envelope.
5. a card you can write on and mail without putting it in an envelope, often with a
a card you can write on and mail without putting it in an envelope, often with a photo on one side.
Ignacio sent a card from Taitung with a beach photo.
send a card from + place
I kept the old card from Kyoto in my travel journal.
Please write the address on the back of the card.
The museum shop sells cards showing old city maps.
- postcard
the usual exact word for this sense
文法句型
send a card from + place
write on the back of a card
用法筆記
Often refers to a travel or picture card sent through the post. Unlike sense 4, it is a single card rather than a folded one inside an envelope.
6. a small card that shows a person's name, job, company, and contact details.
a small card that shows a person's name, job, company, and contact details.
Reema handed me a card after the design meeting.
hand somebody your card
Keep the dentist's card in case you need an urgent appointment.
The recruiter slipped a card into Liam's notebook.
Each speaker left a business card near the sign-in sheet.
- calling card
can overlap in some contexts but often sounds more old-fashioned
文法句型
give somebody your card
leave a business card
用法筆記
Used for professional introductions and contact information. Distinguish from sense 1: a business card identifies work details, not payment or entry rights.
7. a collectible card with a player's or character's picture and facts that people
a collectible card with a player's or character's picture and facts that people buy, keep, or trade.
Liam traded two baseball cards for one rookie card.
trade cards for + item
The rare dragon card is worth more than my bike.
At the fair, children swapped cards beside the snack stand.
A plastic sleeve kept Rachel's favorite card free from dust.
- collectible
much broader and not limited to cards
文法句型
trade cards
rookie card
collector's card
用法筆記
This sense is about cards collected as objects, often in sports or hobby culture. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 7 is for collecting or trading, not for playing a card game.
8. thick stiff paper used for making signs, boxes, or craft items.
thick stiff paper used for making signs, boxes, or craft items.
Indra cut black card for the science fair display.
cut card for a display
The baker packed the cookies in a box made of card.
Use white card if you want the paint to show clearly.
Our teacher asked for one sheet of card for the model.
- cardboard
often thicker and rougher than ordinary card
文法句型
sheet of card
made of card
用法筆記
Often uncountable when you mean the material in general, and countable in phrases such as 'a sheet of card'. Distinguish from sense 4 or 5, where a card carries a message.
9. a computer part, usually a board, that adds or controls a specific function such
a computer part, usually a board, that adds or controls a specific function such as sound, video, or networking.
The new graphics card made the game run smoothly.
graphics card
A loose sound card caused the strange noise.
The technician replaced the network card in my desktop.
This video card needs a stronger cooling fan.
- board
shorter technical word that can refer to many other components too
文法句型
graphics/sound/network card
replace a card
用法筆記
Common in computer hardware names such as 'graphics card' and 'sound card'. It usually refers to an internal part rather than a general storage item.
10. someone who behaves in a lively, silly, or amusing way that makes other people l
someone who behaves in a lively, silly, or amusing way that makes other people laugh.
Everyone says Patrick is a real card at weddings.
be a real card
My aunt can be such a card when guests arrive.
That old coach was a card and kept the team relaxed.
The whole family laughed because Uncle Joe was a card all evening.
文法句型
be a real card
such a card
用法筆記
Informal and slightly old-fashioned. It usually sounds warm or amused rather than strongly negative.
11. a named calling card left after a formal visit, or sent to mark that the visit t
a named calling card left after a formal visit, or sent to mark that the visit took place.
Beatrix left a card with the ambassador's assistant.
leave your card with + person
Because the hostess was away, the visitor sent a card instead.
In the old custom, ladies left a card after tea.
A footman collected each card and carried the names upstairs.
- visiting card
the usual fuller name for this sense
文法句型
leave your card
send a card
用法筆記
This is a formal social custom and sounds old-fashioned in modern everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 6, which is the modern business-use card.
12. an advantage or useful option that someone can use at the right moment.
an advantage or useful option that someone can use at the right moment.
Her language skills were a strong card in the interview.
a strong card in + situation
Keeping extra cash was our best card during the strike.
The mayor used public support as a card in negotiations.
Quick decisions became our strongest card before the market closed.
文法句型
a strong card
use something as a card
用法筆記
Usually appears in strategic or competitive contexts and often suggests a hidden or timely advantage. Many learners meet it inside idioms such as 'winning card' or 'play the ... card'.
card — verb
- cardpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cards3rd person singular
- carding-ing form
- cardedpast simple
1. to check a person's proof of age or identity before allowing a purchase or entry
to check a person's proof of age or identity before allowing a purchase or entry.
The cashier carded Chidi before completing the beer sale.
card somebody before + sale
Security may card you at the concert gate.
The bartender cards anyone who looks under twenty-five.
Store policy tells staff to card every tobacco customer.
文法句型
card somebody
card anyone who looks under + age
用法筆記
Most common in bars, shops, and event entrances where staff check age or identity. It often appears with people who look younger than the legal age limit.