Definition

Noun: A tarot card is one card from a specific deck of cards, traditionally consisting of 78 cards (often referenced as 72 in some older systems). This deck is divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana (typically 22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (typically 56 cards). The Major Arcana cards are often seen as representing significant life themes, archetypes, or spiritual lessons, such as virtues, vices, fate, and transformation. Tarot cards are commonly used for divination, meditation, and self-reflection.

Usage Examples

• She drew a single tarot card from the deck for a daily guidance reading.
• The tarot card depicting a skeleton riding a horse is often called "Death."
• He studies the symbolism and history of each tarot card.

Advanced Usage

• "to read the tarot cards": To interpret the cards drawn in a spread to offer insight or guidance.
  • The practitioner offered to read the tarot cards for me.
• "a tarot card reading": A session in which the cards are interpreted.
  • She scheduled a tarot card reading for her birthday.

Variants and Related Words

• Tarot (noun): Refers to the entire system or deck of tarot cards.
  • She is an expert in tarot.
• Major Arcana (noun phrase): The 22 trump cards in a tarot deck (e.g., The Fool, The Magician, The World).
• Minor Arcana (noun phrase): The 56 suit cards in a tarot deck, divided into four suits (often Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands).

Synonyms

• Divination card
• Fortune-telling card

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "The cards speak": A phrase suggesting the tarot cards themselves offer the message or answer.
  • I don't decide the meaning; I just listen when the cards speak.
• "Lay out the cards" / "Do a spread": To arrange drawn tarot cards in a specific pattern for a reading.
  • She asked me to shuffle the deck and lay out the cards in a Celtic Cross spread.

Noun

1. any of a set of (usually 72) cards that include 22 cards representing virtues and vices and death and fortune etc.; used by fortunetellers