–noun

1.	a card or message, usually amatory or sentimental but sometimes satirical or comical, or a token or gift sent by one person to another on Valentine Day, sometimes anonymously.

2.	a sweetheart chosen or greeted on this day.

3.	a written or other artistic work, message, token, etc., expressing affection for something or someone: His photographic essay is a valentine to Paris.

–noun

1.	a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card.

2.	one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card.

3.	cards, (usually used with a singular verb) a. a game or games played with such a set. b. the playing of such a game: to win at cards. c. Casino. the winning of 27 cards or more. d. Whist. tricks won in excess of six.

4.	Also called greeting card. a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually folded, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a person on an appropriate occasion.

5.	something useful in attaining an objective, as a course of action or position of strength, comparable to a high card held in a game: If negotiation fails, we still have another card to play.

6.

postcard.

7.	calling card (def. 1).

8.	Commerce. a. credit card. b. bank card.

9.	a program of the events at races, boxing matches, e 1b9 tc.

10.	scorecard.

11.	a menu or wine list.

12.	compass card.

13.	Computers. a. punch card. b. board (def. 14a).

14.	trading card.

15.	Informal. a. a person who is amusing or facetious. b. any person, esp. one with some indicated characteristic: a queer card.

–verb (used with object)

16.	to provide with a card.

17.	to fasten on a card.

18.	to write, list, etc., on cards.

19.	Slang. to examine the identity card or papers of: The bartender was carding all youthful customers to be sure they were of legal drinking age.

—Idioms

20.	in or on the cards, impending or likely; probable: A reorganization is in the cards.

21.	play one's cards right, to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously: If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.

22.	put one's cards on the table, to be completely straightforward and open; conceal nothing: He always believed in putting his cards on the table.