- Main Entry:
- 1cast
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈkast\
- Function:
- verb
- Inflected Form(s):
- cast; cast·ing
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old Norse kasta; akin to Old Norse kǫs heap
- Date:
- 13th century
transitive verb1 a: to cause to move or send forth by throwing <cast a fishing lure> <cast dice> b: direct <cast a glance> c (1): to put forth <the fire casts a warm glow> <cast light on the subject> (2): to place as if by throwing <cast doubt on their reliability> d: to deposit (a ballot) formally e (1): to throw off or away <the horse cast a shoe> (2): to get rid of : discard <cast off all restraint> (3): shed, molt (4): to bring forth; especially : to give birth to prematurely f: to throw to the ground especially in wrestling g: to build by throwing up earth2 a (1): to perform arithmetical operations on : add (2): to calculate by means of astrology barchaic : decide, intend3 a: to dispose or arrange into parts or into a suitable form or order b (1): to assign the parts of (a dramatic production) to actors <cast a movie> (2): to assign (as an actor) to a role or part <was cast in the leading role>4 a: to give a shape to (a substance) by pouring in liquid or plastic form into a mold and letting harden without pressure <cast steel> b: to form by this process5: turn <cast the scale slightly>6: to make (a knot or stitch) by looping or catching up7: twist, warp <a beam cast by age>intransitive verb1: to throw something; specifically : to throw out a lure with a fishing rod2dialect British : vomit3dialect English : to bear fruit : yield4 a: to perform addition bobsolete : estimate, conjecture5: warp6: to range over land in search of a trail —used of hunting dogs or trackers7: veer
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cast·abil·i·ty \ˌkas-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun —
cast·able \ˈkas-tə-bəl\ adjective —
cast lots : to draw lots to determine a matter by chance
