# cards

/ˈkɑɹdz/ (US) · /kˈɑːdz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cards
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. playing pieces

noun · CEFR A1

small, rectangular pieces of stiff paper with numbers and pictures used for playing games.

For teachers: a set of rectangular pieces of cardstock used as the primary equipment for various games of chance or skill.

- He shuffled the cards carefully before dealing them to the other players.
- The magician asked a volunteer to pick one of the cards from the deck and remember its suit without showing anyone else.

### 2. card games

noun · CEFR A2

games that you play using a deck of cards.

For teachers: the activity or pastime of playing games with a deck of cards.

- We stayed up late playing cards and drinking tea in the kitchen.
- They spent their Friday evenings playing cards for small stakes, enjoying the social interaction more than the competition itself.

### 3. sports penalties

noun · CEFR B1

yellow or red pieces of plastic a referee shows to players who break the rules.

For teachers: coloured cards shown by a referee to indicate a formal caution or a dismissal from the field of play.

- The referee handed out three yellow cards during the second half of the match.
- After a series of aggressive fouls, the official had no choice but to start issuing cards to regain control of the game.

### 4. checking identification

verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

to ask someone to show their official ID to prove how old they are.

For teachers: to verify a person's age by requesting to see their official identification card, typically in a venue serving alcohol.

- The security guard cards everyone who looks under thirty at the entrance.
- The bar has a strict policy where the staff cards every patron regardless of their apparent age to ensure total compliance with local laws.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes a person as the direct object.

## Examples

- He deals the cards to everyone at the table.
- After dinner, the family sat down to play a few rounds of cards together.
- Professional players often spend years mastering the statistical probabilities associated with specific decks of cards to gain a competitive edge during high-stakes tournaments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.