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 verb 1 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 earth
2 a (1) : to perform arithmetical operations on : add (2) : to calculate by means of astrology b archaic : decide, intend
3 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 process
5 : turn <cast the scale slightly>
6 : to make (a knot or stitch) by looping or catching up
7 : twist, warp <a beam cast by age>intransitive verb 1 : to throw something; specifically : to throw out a lure with a fishing rod
2 dialect British : vomit
3 dialect English : to bear fruit : yield
4 a : to perform addition b obsolete : estimate, conjecture
5 : warp
6 : to range over land in search of a trail —used of hunting dogs or trackers
7 : veer

synonyms see discard, throw

— 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