car
di
nal
Plural
cardinals
1
a North American songbird with a red beak, the male of which has bright red plumage
A cardinal, also known as the Northern Cardinal, is a strikingly beautiful bird native to North America. The male Cardinal is particularly notable for its vibrant plumage, bright red feathers, and distinctive crest on its head. The female, while less vivid in color, still displays a lovely combination of reddish hues with touches of brown. Cardinals are medium-sized songbirds with strong beak that is perfectly adapted for cracking seeds and nuts. Their melodious and rich whistling songs can often be heard in woodlands, gardens, and parks, adding a delightful touch to the surrounding environment. Cardinals are year-round residents in many regions, bringing a splash of color to snowy winter landscapes. They are known to be territorial birds and can be observed fiercely defending their feeding areas and nesting sites.
- The male cardinal sang loudly from a branch near the feeder.
- In winter, the cardinal's red feathers stand out against the snow.
- They spotted a pair of cardinals building a nest in the maple tree.
- The cardinal is a common symbol of vitality and hope in art.
- Birdwatchers often recognize the cardinal by its clear, whistling song.
2
(mathematics) the number of elements or members in a set, representing its size or quantity
- The cardinal of the set {1, 2, 3} is 3.
- To find the cardinal, count the elements in the set.
- If a set is empty, its cardinal is zero.
- To determine the cardinal, we simply list and count the elements.
- The cardinal of a set with repeated elements is still the total number of elements.
Synonyms:
3
(in the Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of senior clergy who advise the Pope and elect his successor
- The cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope.
- Each cardinal wears a red hat symbolizing loyalty and sacrifice.
- The Pope appointed three new cardinals to the College of Cardinals.
- The cardinal delivered a sermon emphasizing humility and faith.
- Cardinals play a key role in shaping the direction of the Church.
4
a vivid shade of red, often resembling the color of a cardinal's feathers
- The artist mixed a hue of cardinal to capture the sunset's glow.
- The flag featured bold stripes of white and cardinal.
- Cardinal became the school's official team color.
- Painters often use cardinal to evoke warmth and intensity.
Synonyms:
5
(grammar) a part of speech that is used in counting or showing a quantity
- In the phrase "four dogs," four is a cardinal.
- The teacher explained the difference between cardinals and ordinals.
- The grammar exercise asked students to identify all cardinals in the text.
- Children first learn cardinals before understanding ordinal numbers.
- In some languages, cardinals agree in gender with the nouns they modify.