Cardinal — Defs

01 a. Of fundamental importance; preëminent; superior; chief; principal.

1.
Of fundamental importance; preëminent; superior; chief; principal.
“The cardinal intersections of the zodiac.” — Sir T. Browne.

“Impudence is now a cardinal virtue.” — Drayton.

“But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

Cardinal numbers — the numbers one, two, three, etc., in distinction from first, second, third, etc., which are called ordinal numbers.

Cardinal points — The four principal points of the compass, or intersections of the horizon with the meridian and the prime vertical circle, north, south east, and west.

Cardinal signs — Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn.

Cardinal teeth — the central teeth of bivalve shell. See Bivalve.

Cardinal veins — the veins in vertebrate embryos, which run each side of the vertebral column and returm the blood to the heart. They remain through life in some fishes.

Cardinal virtues — preëminent virtues; among the ancients, prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.

Cardinal winds — winds which blow from the cardinal points due north, south, east, or west.

02 n. One of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the pope's council, or the sacred college.

1.
One of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the pope's council, or the sacred college.(R. C. Ch.)
“The clerics of the supreme Chair are called Cardinals, as undoubtedly adhering more nearly to the hinge by which all things are moved.” — Pope Leo IX.
2.
A woman's short cloak with a hood.
“Where's your cardinal! Make haste.” — Lloyd.
3.
Mulled red wine.
4.
the cardinal bird, also called the northern cardinal. Also: northern cardinal

Phrases & compounds

Cardinal bird — an American song bird (Cardinalis cardinalis, or Cardinalis Virginianus), of the family Fringillidæ, or finches of which the male has a bright red plumage, and both sexes have a high, pointed crest on its head; -- it is also called the northern cardinal or eastern cardinal. The males have loud and musical notes resembling those of a fife. Other related species are also called cardinal birds.

Cardinal flower — an herbaceous plant (Lobelia cardinalis) bearing brilliant red flowers of much beauty.

Cardinal red — a color like that of a cardinal's cassock, hat, etc.; a bright red, darker than scarlet, and between scarlet and crimson.