cardinal

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

car·din·al [cardinal cardinals] noun, adjective BrE [ˈkɑːdɪnl] NAmE [ˈkɑːrdɪnl]
noun
1. a priest of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals elect and advise the Pope
•Cardinal Brady
2. (also ˌcardinal ˈnumber)a number, such as 1, 2 and 3, used to show quantity rather than order
compare ↑ordinal
3. a N American bird. The male cardinal is bright red.

Word Origin:
Old English, from Latin cardinalis, from cardo, cardin- ‘hinge’. Sense 1 has arisen through the notion of the important function of such priests as “pivots” of church life.
 
adjective only before noun (formal)
most important; having other things based on it
•Respect for life is a cardinal principle of English law.

Word Origin:
Old English, from Latin cardinalis, from cardo, cardin- ‘hinge’. Sense 1 has arisen through the notion of the important function of such priests as “pivots” of church life.
 

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  central, fundamental, key, primal, cardinal grosbeak, Richmondena Cardinalis, Cardinalis cardinalis, redbird, carmine, cardinal number