Cards

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kɑɹdz/

Definitions

1. A flat, typically rectangular piece of stiff paper or plastic often used for games, identification, or conveying information; a medium for artistic expression or communication; items that can represent values or symbols in various games or activities
2. Stiff, often rectangular pieces of material used for playing games, identification purposes, or creative displays; an instrument for entertainment or communication; objects representing a range of values, figures, or messages in gaming contexts
3. Rectangular objects made from paper or plastic, used in gaming, identification, or as a form of art; tools for leisure or informative purposes; elements that symbolize different values or ideas within various recreational activities

Etymology: "Cards" is the plural of "card," so the plural adds nothing new to the story. "Card" for a flat game piece is a sense of the same word that also gives us the paper card and the wool-carding tool. The word traces back through Old French and Latin to the Greek "chartēs," a sheet of papyrus, which is also the source of "charta."

Synonyms: playing cards, deck, trump cards