The meaning of Cardinal

adjective

Forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Certain basic rules must be obeyed

noun

The essential facts or principles of a subject or skill.

Usage examples:

I learnt the basics of programming on a course

noun

A simple high-level computer programming language that uses familiar english words, designed for beginners and formerly used widely.

Usage examples:

You could write your own software in the basic programming language

noun

The city or town that functions as the seat of government and administrative centre of a country or region.

Usage examples:

Warsaw is the capital of poland

adjective

(of an offence or charge) liable to the death penalty.

Usage examples:

Murder is the only capital crime in the state

exclamation

Used to express approval, satisfaction, or delight.

Usage examples:

That's splendid! capital!

noun

A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Usage examples:

The chief of the village

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

The chief reason for the spending cuts

adjective

Most important

Usage examples:

Their chief objection to the appointment was that she had no judicial experience., the chief econom…

adjective

Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.

Usage examples:

Negotiations were at a crucial stage

adjective

(of a decision or event) extremely important because many other things depend on it

Usage examples:

The behavior of the oceans is a crucial aspect of global warming., the band wants to win over fans …

adjective

Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Usage examples:

It is essential to keep up-to-date records

noun

A thing that is absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment

adjective

Extremely important or necessary

Usage examples:

A knowledge of spanish is essential for this job., there is an essential difference between the two…

Preceding all others in time or space or degree

ordinal number

Coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.

Usage examples:

His first wife

ordinal number

Foremost in position, rank, or importance.

Usage examples:

The doctor's first duty is to respect this right

adjective

Most prominent in rank, importance, or position.

Usage examples:

One of the foremost art collectors of his day

adverb

Before anything else in rank, importance, or position; in the first place.

Usage examples:

It was, foremost, the first unequivocal demonstration of the process

adjective

Best known or most important

Usage examples:

He was one of the foremost actors of his day.

adjective

Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.

Usage examples:

The protection of fundamental human rights

noun

A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.

Usage examples:

Two courses cover the fundamentals of microbiology

adjective

Being the most basic or most important thing on which other things depend

Usage examples:

Fundamental beliefs/principles, we need to make fundamental changes in the way we treat our environ…

adjective

Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.

Usage examples:

The article was of great interest

noun

An important or distinguished person.

Usage examples:

The beatles, bob dylan, all the greats

adverb

Very well; excellently.

Usage examples:

We played awful, they played great

adjective

Of great vertical extent.

Usage examples:

The top of a high mountain

adverb

At or to a considerable or specified height.

Usage examples:

The sculpture stood about five feet high

noun

A high point, level, or figure.

Usage examples:

Commodity prices were at a rare high

adjective

Of great significance or value.

Usage examples:

Important habitats for wildlife

adjective

Of great value, meaning, or effect

Usage examples:

An important discovery, [ + that clause ] it’s important that you tell the doctor all your symptoms…

noun

A small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it.

Usage examples:

There were two keys to the cupboard

adjective

Of crucial importance.

Usage examples:

She became a key figure in the suffragette movement

verb

Enter or operate on (data) by means of a computer keyboard or telephone keypad.

Usage examples:

Not everyone can key data quickly and accurately

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

A number of leading politicians

noun

Guidance or leadership, especially in a spiritual context.

Usage examples:

Things can be learned in many ways (spiritual leading is one way you pointed).

noun

The amount of blank space between lines of print.

Usage examples:

Most scrapbookers don't know what kerning or leading are and how to adjust them accordingly.

adjective

Chief in size or importance.

Usage examples:

A main road

noun

A principal pipe carrying water or gas to buildings, or taking sewage from them.

Usage examples:

A faulty gas main

noun

(in the game of hazard) a number (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) called by a player before dice are thrown.

adjective

Important, serious, or significant.

Usage examples:

The use of drugs is a major problem

noun

A rank of officer in the army and the us air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.

Usage examples:

One e-mail avowed that too many majors and lieutenant colonels flounder in their first joint assign…

verb

Short for major suit.

Usage examples:

South was anxious to mention his four-card major and bid one spade

adjective

More important than anything else; supreme.

Usage examples:

The interests of the child are of paramount importance

proper noun

A city in south-western california, south-east of los angeles; population 55,236 (est. 2008).

adjective

More important than anything else

Usage examples:

Everybody agrees that education is the paramount issue.

adjective

More important or better than others

Usage examples:

She is the pre-eminent authority in her subject.

adjective

First in importance, order, or position; leading.

Usage examples:

Germany's premier rock band

noun

A prime minister or other head of government.

Usage examples:

The premier told the president that failure to co-operate with the hague would have disastrous cons…

adjective

Best or most important

Usage examples:

He was widely regarded as one of the world’s premier authorities on heart disease., the premier of …

adjective

Of chief importance; principal.

Usage examples:

The government's primary aim is to see significant reductions in unemployment

noun

(in the us) a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election.

Usage examples:

These two republicans should win their primaries easily

verb

Former term for palaeozoic.

adjective

Of first importance; main.

Usage examples:

A nurse's prime concern is the well-being of the patient

noun

The state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life.

Usage examples:

You're in the prime of life

verb

Make (something) ready for use or action.

Usage examples:

He grabbed a gun from a nearby wall and primed it

adjective

First in order of importance; main.

Usage examples:

The country's principal cities

noun

The most important or senior person in an organization or group.

Usage examples:

A design consultancy whose principal is based in san francisco

adjective

First in order of importance

Usage examples:

Iraq’s principal export is oil.

noun

The highest or uppermost point, part, or surface of something.

Usage examples:

Doreen stood at the top of the stairs

adjective

Highest in position, rank, or degree.

Usage examples:

The top button of his shirt

verb

Exceed (an amount, level, or number); be more than.

Usage examples:

Losses are expected to top £100 m this year

adjective

Highest in physical position; highest.

Usage examples:

We watched a squirrel negotiate the topmost branches of a nearby tree

adjective

Highest

Usage examples:

We sat on the topmost step and waited.

adjective

Absolutely necessary; essential.

Usage examples:

Secrecy is of vital importance

noun

The body's important internal organs.

Usage examples:

He felt the familiar knot contract in his vitals

adjective

Necessary or extremely important for the success or continued existence of something

Usage examples:

The existence of a strong opposition is vital to a healthy democracy., the kidneys play a vital rol…