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DictionaryspadePlaying-card suit
noun

spade

The playing-card suit marked by black pointed-leaf symbols.

The player lays down the ace of spades.

Etymology
spadeItaliansword

The suit name comes from Italian spade, meaning swords, used in a different card-suit system. English applied the name to the black pointed-leaf suit.

More examples

  • A spade appeared on the next card.
  • She held five spades.
  • He led with his highest spade.

Forms

spade · spades

Similar words

club
A different black suit with a three-lobed symbol.
heart
A red suit with a rounded heart-shaped symbol.