cards

cards · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of card; multiple pieces of stiff paper or thin cardboard.

  2. 2.

    A game or games played with a deck of playing cards.

  3. 3.

    Multiple credit, debit, or identification cards.

Forms

plural: cards

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    in the cards — likely to happen; destined
  • •
    on the cards — (British) likely to happen
  • •
    house of cards — an organization or plan that is weak and likely to fail
  • •
    play one's cards close to one's chest — to be secretive about intentions
  • •
    be dealt a bad hand of cards — to be given unfavorable circumstances

Related words

See also: card, deck, game, poker
Synonyms: deck, playing cards

Etymology

From Old French cartes, plural of carte, from Latin charta ("paper"). The use of "cards" to refer to card games specifically developed in English by the 16th century.