1831, "official signature or endorsement on a passport," from Fr. visa, from Mod.L. charta visa "verified paper," lit. "paper that has been seen," from fem. pp. of L. videre "to see" (see vision). Earlier visé (1810), from Fr. pp. of viser "to examine, view."

–noun

1.	a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for 534 various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card.

2.	one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card.

3.	cards, (usually used with a singular verb) a. a game or games played with such a set. b. the playing of such a game: to win at cards. c. Casino. the winning of 27 cards or more. cce d. Whist. tricks won in excess of six.

4.	Also called greeting card. a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually folded, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a person on an appropriate occasion.

5.	something useful in attaining an objective, as a course of action or position of strength, comparable to a high card held in a game: If negotiation fails, we still have another card to play.

6.

postcard.

7.	calling card (def. 1).

8.	Commerce. a. credit card. b. bank card.

9.	a program of the events at races, boxing matches, etc.

10.	scorecard.

11.	a menu or wine list.

12.	compass card.

13.	Computers. a. punch card. b. board (def. 14a).

14.	trading card.

15.	Informal. a. a person who is amusing or facetious. b. any person, esp. one with some indicated characteristic: a queer card.

–verb (used with object)

16.	to provide with a card.

17.	to fasten on a card.

18.	to write, list, etc., on cards.

19.	Slang. to examine the identity card or papers of: The bartender was carding all youthful customers to be sure they were of legal drinking age.

—Idioms

20.	in or on the cards, impending or likely; probable: A reorganization is in the cards.

21.	play one's cards right, to act cleverly, sensibly, or cautiously: If you play your cards right, you may get mentioned in her will.

22.	put one's cards on the table, to be completely straightforward and open; conceal nothing: He always believed in putting his cards on the table.