1. A card game played with a deck of 48 cards (two of each rank from 9 to ace in four suits), in which players score points by forming combinations and winning tricks.
Usage: Also spelled pinocle.; Common in North America, especially among older players.
2. A combination of the queen of spades and jack of diamonds in pinochle, worth points.
Usage: Specific to the card game pinochle.

Examples

• My grandparents play pinochle every Friday night with their friends.
• She won the pinochle tournament at the community center.
• In pinochle, you need to keep track of which cards have been played.
• He held a pinochle in his hand, which gave him bonus points.
• Learning pinochle takes practice, but it's a fun card game for groups.