cardinal meaning and definition

CARDINAL noun

Definition of cardinal (noun)

1. (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
2. the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
   • synonyms: cardinal number
3. a variable color averaging a vivid red
   • synonyms: carmine
4. crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male
   • synonyms: cardinal grosbeak, Cardinalis cardinalis, redbird, Richmondena Cardinalis

CARDINAL adjective

Definition of cardinal (adjective)

1. serving as an essential component
   • "a cardinal rule"; "the central cause of the problem"; "an example that was fundamental to the argument"; "computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure"
   • synonyms: central, fundamental, key, primal
2. being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order
   • "cardinal numbers"
   • antonym: ordinal