a priest of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals elect and advise the Pope. 枢机；枢机主教 Cardinal Newman 纽曼枢机主教
- (also cardinal number)
a number, such as 1, 2 and 3 (or one, two and three), used to show quantity rather than order 基数；纯数 a North American bird. The male cardinal is bright red. 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）
Word OriginOld 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.