cardinal

car-di-nal · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

1.
A senior official of the Roman Catholic Church, ranking below the Pope.
2.
Of the greatest importance; fundamental.
3.
A bright red North American songbird with a distinctive crest.
4.
Of a deep scarlet red color.
5.
A deep scarlet red color.
6.
A cardinal number (one, two, three, etc., as opposed to ordinal numbers).

Forms

plural: cardinals

Phrases & expressions

•
cardinal sin — a serious error or fault
•
cardinal number — a number denoting quantity (one, two, three)
•
cardinal points — the four main directions (north, south, east, west)
•
cardinal virtue — one of the four principal virtues in classical philosophy

Related words

Antonyms: minor, secondary, subordinate

See also: bishop, church, fundamental, principal

Synonyms: chief, fundamental, primary, principal

Etymology

From Latin "cardinalis" meaning "serving as a hinge" or "principal," from "cardo" meaning hinge. The sense of "chief" or "fundamental" comes from the idea of something upon which other things depend or turn.