cardinal

Everyday

1. (church) A senior leader in the Roman Catholic Church who wears red and helps choose the Pope. tree →
2. A bright red songbird of North America; the male is red with a crest. tree →
3. (adjective) Most important or basic, as in "a cardinal rule". tree →
4. (maths) A cardinal number is a counting number like one, two, three, as opposed to first, second, third. tree →
5. A deep red colour. tree →

In the lessons

In church and history lessons cardinals elect the Pope. In nature lessons in the USA and Canada the cardinal is a common garden bird. In maths, cardinal numbers count how many and ordinal numbers show order. Geography uses "cardinal points" for north, south, east and west. Phrases: "cardinal points", "cardinal numbers", "cardinal rule", "cardinal sin".

Examples

• The cardinals met in Rome to choose a new Pope. tree →
• A red cardinal sat on our bird feeder. tree →
• The cardinal points are north, east, south and west. tree →
• Three is a cardinal number; third is an ordinal number. tree →
• The cardinal rule of the pool is no running. tree →
• The cardinal wore a red robe and hat. tree →
• At last he arrived in Rome, where the Pope had just died, and there was great doubt among the cardinals as to whom they should appoint as his successor. tree →

Note

In maths: cardinal numbers = 1, 2, 3 (how many); ordinal numbers = 1st, 2nd, 3rd (which position). "Cardinal sins" in church teaching are the seven deadly sins. Plural: cardinals.

In Jewish tradition

In church and history lessons cardinals elect the Pope. In nature lessons in the USA and Canada the cardinal is a common garden bird. In maths, cardinal numbers count how many and ordinal numbers show order. Geography uses "cardinal points" for north, south, east and west. Phrases: "cardinal points", "cardinal numbers", "cardinal rule", "cardinal sin".

Examples

• But on the most literal level, it means ‘wind’, as in the אַרְבָּע רוּחוֹת arbaʽ ruchot ‘four winds’ corresponding to the four cardinal directions, and is also conjured in the verb הֵרִיחַ heriach ‘to smell, breathe in (with the nostrils)’. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →

Note

In maths: cardinal numbers = 1, 2, 3 (how many); ordinal numbers = 1st, 2nd, 3rd (which position). "Cardinal sins" in church teaching are the seven deadly sins. Plural: cardinals.