cardinal

noun9

1. •
   a leader of the Roman Catholic Church, standing just below its head and helping to choose a new head
2. •
   Any of various species of New-World passerine songbird in the genus Cardinalis, or in the family Cardinalidae more generally, or of similar appearance and once considered to be related to the former; so called because of their red plumage. (See Wikipedia article for taxonomical information.)
3. •
   A deep red color, somewhat less vivid than scarlet, the traditional colour of a Catholic cardinal's cassock. (same as cardinal red)

   • Dark navy-blue, cardinal, golden-brown, old blue, olive, slate-gray, and telegraph-blue are the favorite solid colors seen in heavy beaver cloths […] — 1889
4. •
   Ellipsis of cardinal number, a number indicating quantity, or the size of a set (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3). (See Cardinal_number.)
5. •
   Ellipsis of cardinal numeral, a word used to represent a cardinal number.

   • The commonest numerals in Latin, as in English, are the "cardinals" […] and the "ordinals" […]. — 2005
6. •
   Ellipsis of cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), a flowering plant.

   • The sweet-briar rose with perfume good, / And the violet grows in the Milton wood, / The cardinal red—a queen is she, / But the sweetest flower is Mary Lee. — 1844
7. •
   Ellipsis of cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi), a freshwater fish.
8. •
   (historical) A woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth.

   • She has valuables of mine; besides, my cardinal and veil are in her room. — 1775
9. •
   (no longer used) Mulled red wine.

   • He goes up, and finds the remains of the supper, Tankards full of egg-flip and cardinal, and a party playing at vingt-un. — 1861

adjective5

1. •
   Of fundamental importance; crucial, pivotal.

   • But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye. — 1613
2. •
   Describing a “natural” number used to indicate quantity (e.g., zero, one, two, three), as opposed to an ordinal number indicating relative position.
3. •
   Of or relating to the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west).
4. •
   Having a bright red color (from the color of a Catholic cardinal’s cassock).
5. •
   Being one of the signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, associated with initiation, creation, and force.

noun4

1. •
   A player on the St. Louis Cardinals team.

   • Smith became a Cardinal as the result of a pre-season trade.
2. •
   A player on the Arizona Cardinals team.
3. •
   A student or player on a sports team at the University of Louisville.
4. •
   A player on a sports team at Stanford University.