Dictionary definition · cardinal
noun
- (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
- the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
- a variable color averaging a vivid red
- crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male
adjective
- serving as an essential component"a cardinal rule"
- being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order"cardinal numbers"
Similar words
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).