a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals are nominated by the Pope, and form the Sacred College which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number) 红衣主教(罗马天主教由教皇任命的最高显要,他们组成红衣主教团以选举继任教皇——现总在他们自己圈内选定) ■(亦作 cardinal red)[mass noun]a deep scarlet colour like that of a cardinal's cassock 猩红,鲜红,大红,深红
a New World songbird of the bunting family, with a stout bill and typically with a conspicuous crest. The male is partly or mostly red in colour 红衣凤头鸟
Family Emberizidae, subfamily Cardinalinae (the cardinal grosbeak subfamily): four genera and several species, especially the northern or common cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), the male of which is scarlet with a black face. This subfamily also includes American grosbeaks, buntings, and saltators 鹀科,主红雀亚科:4属,数种,尤指主红雀(拉丁名Cardinalis cardinalis),其雄鸟黑脸赤身。此亚科也包括斑翅雀,彩鹀和舞雀
adjective
[attrib.]of the greatest importance; fundamental 最重要的;根本的 two cardinal points must be borne in mind. 两个根本点必须记在心中。
派生 cardinalate noun
名词义项1
cardinally adverb cardinalship noun
名词义项1
语源
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