1. [n]  one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes; "he collected cards and traded them with the other boys"
2. [n]  a printed circuit that can be inserted into expansion slots in a computer to increase the computer's capabilities
3. [n]  a card certifying the identity of the bearer; "he had to show his card to get in"
4. [n]  (baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat; "the managers presented their cards to the umpire at home plate"
5. [n]  a list of dishes available at a restaurant; "the menu was in French"
6. [n]  a record of scores (as in golf); "you have to turn in your card to get a handicap"
7. [n]  a rectangular piece of stiff paper used to send messages (may have printed greetings or pictures); "they sent us a card from Miami"
8. [n]  a written greeting that is left to indicate that you have visited
9. [n]  a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions"
10. [n]  (informal) a witty amusing person who makes jokes
11. [n]  thin cardboard, usually rectangular
12. [v]  ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor; "I was carded when I tried to buy a beer!"
13. [v]  separate the fibers of

1. \Card\, n. [F. carte, fr. L. charta paper, Gr. ? a leaf of
   paper. Cf. {Chart}.]
   1. A piece of pasteboard, or thick paper, blank or prepared
      for various uses; as, a playing card; a visiting card; a
      card of invitation; pl. a game played with cards.
            Our first cards were to Carabas House. --Thackeray.
   2. A published note, containing a brief statement,
      explanation, request, expression of thanks, or the like;
      as, to put a card in the newspapers. Also, a printed
      programme, and (fig.), an attraction or inducement; as,
      this will be a good card for the last day of the fair.
   3. A paper on which the points of the compass are marked; the
      dial or face of the mariner's compass.
            All the quartere that they know I' the shipman's
            card.                                 --Shak.
   4. (Weaving) A perforated pasteboard or sheet-metal plate for
      warp threads, making part of the Jacquard apparatus of a
      loom. See {Jacquard}.
   5. An indicator card. See under {Indicator}.
   {Business card}, a card on which is printed an advertisement
      or business address.
   {Card basket}
      (a) A basket to hold visiting cards left by callers.
      (b) A basket made of cardboard.
   {Card catalogue}. See {Catalogue}.
   {Card rack}, a rack or frame for holding and displaying
      business or visiting card.
   {Card table}, a table for use inplaying cards, esp. one
      having a leaf which folds over.
   {On the cards}, likely to happen; foretold and expected but
      not yet brought to pass; -- a phrase of fortune tellers
      that has come into common use; also, according to the
      programme.
   {Playing card}, cards used in playing games; specifically,
      the cards cards used playing which and other games of
      chance, and having each pack divided onto four kinds or
      suits called hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. The full
      or whist pack contains fifty-two cards.
   {To have the cards in one's own hands}, to have the winning
      cards; to have the means of success in an undertaking.
   {To play one's cards well}, to make no errors; to act
      shrewdly.
   {To play snow one's cards}, to expose one's plants to rivals
      or foes.
   {To speak by the card}, to speak from information and
      definitely, not by guess as in telling a ship's bearing by
      the compass card.
   {Visiting card}, a small card bearing the name, and sometimes
      the address, of the person presenting it.
   

2. \Card\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Carded}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Carding}.]
   To play at cards; to game. --Johnson.
   

3. \Card\, n. [F. carde teasel, the head of a thistle, card,
   from L. carduus, cardus, thistle, fr. carere to card.]
   1. An instrument for disentangling and arranging the fibers
      of cotton, wool, flax, etc.; or for cleaning and smoothing
      the hair of animals; -- usually consisting of bent wire
      teeth set closely in rows in a thick piece of leather
      fastened to a back.
   2. A roll or sliver of fiber (as of wool) delivered from a
      carding machine.
   {Card clothing}, strips of wire-toothed card used for
      covering the cylinders of carding machines.
   

4. \Card\, v. t.
   1. To comb with a card; to cleanse or disentangle by carding;
      as, to card wool; to card a horse.
            These card the short comb the longer flakes. --Dyer.
   2. To clean or clear, as if by using a card. [Obs.]
            This book [must] be carded and purged. --T. Shelton.
   3. To mix or mingle, as with an inferior or weaker article.
      [Obs.]
            You card your beer, if you guests being to be drunk.
            -- half small, half strong.           --Greene.
   Note: In the manufacture of wool, cotton, etc., the process
         of carding disentangles and collects together all the
         fibers, of whatever length, and thus differs from
         combing, in which the longer fibers only are collected,
         while the short straple is combed away. See {Combing}.
   

1. A circuit board.

2. A punched card.

3. An alternative term for a node in a system (e.g. HyperCard, Notecards) in which the node size is limited.