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cardinal

[ˈkɑːdɪnəl]

cardinal Definition

  • 1a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church
  • 2a bright red color
  • 3a North American songbird with a crest on the head

Using cardinal: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cardinal" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The cardinal was appointed by the Pope to lead the diocese.

  • Example

    She wore a beautiful dress in cardinal red.

  • Example

    I saw a cardinal perched on the tree outside my window this morning.

cardinal Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with cardinal

  • a fundamental principle or rule that is considered essential and should not be broken

    Example

    In journalism, the cardinal rule is to always check your sources before publishing a story.

  • one of the four main points of the compass: north, south, east, or west

    Example

    We need to head in a cardinal direction to reach the highway.

  • a number used to indicate quantity, such as one, two, three, etc.

    Example

    In the sentence 'There are three apples on the table,' 'three' is a cardinal number.

Origins of cardinal

from Latin 'cardinalis', meaning 'principal, chief, essential'

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Summary: cardinal in Brief

The term 'cardinal' [ˈkɑːdɪnəl] has three main meanings. Firstly, it refers to a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Secondly, it describes a bright red color. Thirdly, it denotes a North American songbird with a crest on the head. 'Cardinal' extends into phrases like 'cardinal rule,' denoting a fundamental principle, and 'cardinal direction,' indicating one of the four main points of the compass.

How do native speakers use this expression?