card
A1Neutral (common in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
A small, usually rectangular piece of stiff paper or plastic, used for purposes such as identification, payment, sending a message, or playing games.
The concept extends to digital/virtual equivalents (e.g., credit card on a phone), symbolic representation of an idea (e.g., 'play the environmental card'), a resource or advantage, and a computing component (e.g., graphics card).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous; meaning is heavily context-dependent. Refers to a physical object, its digital representation, a strategic concept, or a piece of technology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: 'Post a card' (postcard) is common. US: 'Mail a card'. 'To card' (to check ID) is slightly more common in US. 'Greetings card' (UK) vs. 'Greeting card' (US).
Connotations
Generally identical. 'Card' can imply formality/informality based on type (business card vs. birthday card).
Frequency
Extremely high and comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have/get a cardto send/post/mail a cardto play a cardto use/swipe/insert a cardto hold/carry a cardto pull/play the X card (figurative)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to play your cards right”
- “to hold all the cards”
- “to lay/put your cards on the table”
- “a card up your sleeve”
- “to get your cards (UK: be fired)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Business card, credit card, report card (performance evaluation), card payment system.
Academic
Index card, flash card, library card, card catalog(ue).
Everyday
Birthday card, bank card, loyalty card, playing cards, SIM card.
Technical
Graphics card, network card, sound card, smart card (embedded chip).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bouncer will card anyone who looks under 25.
- They carded the wool before spinning it.
American English
- Make sure to card her at the door.
- He was carded for the beer purchase.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- He works in the card payments industry.
- We need more card stock for the invitations.
American English
- The store has a card-only policy.
- She bought a card table for the game night.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I sent a birthday card to my friend.
- Can I pay by card?
- We played cards all evening.
- She handed me her business card after the meeting.
- My credit card was declined at the shop.
- Don't forget to post the Christmas cards.
- The politician was accused of playing the 'victim card' to gain sympathy.
- You need to install a new graphics card for that game.
- He kept his best idea as a card up his sleeve.
- The new security protocol requires all employees to card in and out.
- Her wildcard entry into the tournament surprised everyone.
- The negotiator wisely laid all his cards on the table to build trust.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **C**redit **ARD**ent (eager) shopper always using a CARD to pay.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/ACTIONS ARE OBJECTS TO BE PLAYED (e.g., 'play the race card', 'play your cards right'); LIFE IS A GAME OF CARDS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'card' (карта, открытка, карточка) with 'map' (only карта). 'Bank card' is not 'банковская карта' in all contexts—it's a specific payment tool. 'To card someone' does not mean to map something.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'card' for a thick paper sheet (use 'cardboard' or 'card stock'). Saying 'a paper of card' instead of 'a piece of card'. Confusing 'postcard' with 'postal card' (official).
Practice
Quiz
In a computing context, what is a 'card' most likely to be?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily countable (a card, two cards). Uncountable when referring to the material ('a box made of card').
A postcard has a picture on one side and space for a message and address on the other, and is sent by post without an envelope. A greeting card (birthday, Christmas) is usually folded, contains a pre-printed message, and is sent in an envelope.
It is an informal idiom meaning to be fired or dismissed from your job.
Yes. Main meanings: 1) To check someone's ID to verify age (US/UK). 2) To comb wool or flax before spinning (technical).
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.