card punch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low/Technical)Technical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “card punch” mean?
A mechanical or electronic device used to create holes in punched cards, representing data.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mechanical or electronic device used to create holes in punched cards, representing data.
Historically, a machine or the operator who used such a machine to encode information onto cards for early data processing systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both varieties use the same term.
Connotations
Evokes the same historical/technical era in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low and specialised in both varieties, found only in historical or technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “card punch” in a Sentence
[Subject] operated the card punch.The card punch [verb] the data onto the card.Data was entered [via/using] a card punch.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “card punch” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The operator had to card-punch the entire dataset, which took weeks.
- We need to get this information card-punched by Friday.
American English
- She card-punched the survey results for analysis.
- The data was card-punched onto Hollerith cards.
adjective
British English
- The card-punch room was noisy and busy.
- We found some card-punch equipment in the basement.
American English
- He worked a card-punch job during the 1960s.
- The card-punch operator was a common entry-level position.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Obsolete; would only appear in discussions of very old business data systems or computing history.
Academic
Used in historical studies of technology, computer science history, or information science.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context, though still historical. May be mentioned in legacy system documentation or museums.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “card punch”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “card punch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “card punch”
- Using 'card punch' to refer to a modern device like a card printer or embosser.
- Confusing 'card punch' (noun: the machine) with 'punch a card' (verb phrase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a completely obsolete technology. Punched cards and the machines to create them were superseded by magnetic storage (tapes, disks) and later by electronic data entry.
They are largely synonymous. 'Keypunch' is often used more specifically for the machine operated via a keyboard to punch the cards, while 'card punch' can be a more general term.
Yes, historically it could be a job title for the operator of the machine, e.g., 'She worked as a card punch.'
It's important for understanding the history of technology and data processing. While not used in modern practice, it appears in historical texts, documentaries, and discussions about the evolution of computers.
A mechanical or electronic device used to create holes in punched cards, representing data.
Card punch is usually technical/historical in register.
Card punch: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːd ˌpʌntʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːrd ˌpʌntʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an old-fashioned 'punch' clock for time cards, but instead it 'punches' holes in data 'cards'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DATA IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (that can be punched/shaped).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'card punch' primarily associated with?