cardinal

Meanings

• (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
• the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
• a variable color averaging a vivid red
• crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male
• serving as an essential component
  • "a cardinal rule"
• being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order
  • "cardinal numbers"

Synonyms

cardinal grosbeak, cardinal number, Cardinalis cardinalis, carmine, central, fundamental, key, primal, redbird, Richmondena Cardinalis