card catalogue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Library Science), Historical
Quick answer
What does “card catalogue” mean?
A physical cabinet containing drawers of index cards, each representing a book or item in a library collection, organized alphabetically or by subject for manual searching.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A physical cabinet containing drawers of index cards, each representing a book or item in a library collection, organized alphabetically or by subject for manual searching.
Any systematic, item-by-item listing or database, especially one that is considered traditional or outdated compared to digital systems. Can metaphorically refer to an old-fashioned method of organization.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'catalogue' is standard in British English; 'catalog' is the common American spelling for the word. The compound 'card catalogue/catalog' follows this pattern.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties—strongly associated with traditional libraries and a bygone era of information retrieval.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in modern usage in both varieties, primarily found in historical contexts, library studies, or metaphorical use.
Grammar
How to Use “card catalogue” in a Sentence
search + through + the card cataloguelook up + [item] + in + the card cataloguethe card catalogue + is/has been + replaced by + [digital system]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “card catalogue” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The collection was meticulously card-catalogued by the archivist.
American English
- The librarian spent years card-cataloging the special collection.
adjective
British English
- It was a card-catalogue system, slow but beautifully precise.
American English
- He has a card-catalog approach to organizing his notes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically to criticise an outdated filing or record-keeping system: 'Their client database is like a card catalogue from the 1970s.'
Academic
Common in Library & Information Science, History, and studies of technology. Used to describe historical research methods.
Everyday
Very low frequency. Used mainly by older generations or when describing childhood memories of libraries.
Technical
Core term in library science history. Precise definition: a catalogue consisting of separate entries on cards of uniform size stored in a definite order.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “card catalogue”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “card catalogue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “card catalogue”
- Using 'card catalogue' to refer to a digital interface. *'I found it using the library's online card catalogue.' (Incorrect: should be 'online catalogue').
- Misspelling as 'card catalog' in British English contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar. A 'card catalogue' specifically refers to a library's inventory of holdings. A 'card index' can be for any collection of information (e.g., research notes, client contacts). In a library context, they are often synonymous.
Extremely rarely for active searching. Some may maintain them as a backup, for special collections not fully digitised, or for historical preservation. Their primary use is now historical or pedagogical.
It was largely replaced by Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs) and integrated library systems (ILS) from the 1980s onwards, which are digital databases accessible via computer terminals and, later, the web.
Yes, though it's specialist and dated. 'To card-catalogue' (or 'card-catalog') means to create index card entries for items in a collection. The past participle is often used adjectivally (e.g., 'a fully card-catalogued collection').
A physical cabinet containing drawers of index cards, each representing a book or item in a library collection, organized alphabetically or by subject for manual searching.
Card catalogue is usually formal, technical (library science), historical in register.
Card catalogue: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːd ˌkæt.əl.ɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːrd ˈkæt̬.əl.ɑːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] A card-catalogue mind: referring to someone who organizes information in a very systematic, traditional, or compartmentalized way.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CARD game where each card holds a book's details, stored in a CATalogue (a list of cats would be strange, but a list of books is normal).
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT STORED IN A CONTAINER. The library is the container, the cards are the organized objects holding information.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'card catalogue' most accurately used today?