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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Playing card

Card \Card\ (k[aum]rd), 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

    1. A basket to hold visiting cards left by callers.

    2. 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.

Wiktionary
playing card

n. One of usually 52 rectangular pieces of card used to play numerous games, featuring either one to 10 pips or a picture and belonging of one of four suits.

WordNet
playing card

n. one of a pack of cards used in playing card games

Wikipedia
Playing card

A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games. Playing cards are typically palm-sized for convenient handling.

A complete set of cards is called a pack (UK English), deck (US English), or '''set '''(Universal), and the subset of cards held at one time by a player during a game is commonly called a hand. A pack of cards may be used for playing a variety of card games, with varying elements of skill and chance, some of which are played for money (e.g., poker and blackjack games at a casino). Playing cards are also used for illusions, cardistry, building card structures, cartomancy and memory sport.

The front (or "face") of each card carries markings that distinguish it from the other cards in the pack and determine its use under the rules of the game being played. The back of each card is identical for all cards in any particular pack to create an imperfect information scenario. Usually every card will be smooth; however, some packs have braille to allow blind people to read the card number and suit.

Dedicated deck card games have sets that are used only for a specific game. The cards described in this article are used for many games and share a common origin stemming from the standards set in Mamluk Egypt. These sets divide their cards into four suits each consisting of three face cards and numbered or " pip" cards.

Playing card (disambiguation)

A playing card is one of a set of cards used for playing games. It, and similar terms, can also refer to: