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: made of cast iron
2
: resembling cast iron: such as
a
: capable of withstanding great strain
a cast-iron stomach
b
: not admitting change, adaptation, or exception : rigid
a cast-iron will
c
British
: not likely to fail or be broken : airtight
"Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform … gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?"—
J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling
: a commercial alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon that is cast in a mold and is hard, brittle, nonmalleable, and incapable of being hammer-welded but more easily fusible than steel
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
The fence is made of cast iron.
Recent Examples on the WebMadison Yauger, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2023
His choice cut is the snout, crisped in a cast-iron pan.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023
And the blades are mounted on cast-iron spindles, a sturdy material that withstands heat and dampens vibration.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2023
The cast-iron engine is dressed with the same Rochester four-barrel carburetor that's on the Chevy, and the power flows through the same four-speed automatic transmission, but there the resemblance ends.
—David E. Davis Jr., Car and Driver, 1 Mar. 2023
Medieval clergy used cast-iron tongs imprinted with patterns to hold the dough in place and quickly bake it over a fire.
—Joan Bailey, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
Step 2Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat.
—Christopher Michel, Country Living, 27 Feb. 2023
This bamboo and aluminum rack holds up to 30 pounds, but even with a full set of stainless-steel cookware and cast-iron skillets, mine has been rock-solid and sturdy.
—Matt Jancer, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2023
Switch hands and repeat sequence. vkbhat//Getty Images Wrist Rotation Grasp an unopened wine bottle or the handle of a cast-iron pan, keeping upper arm by side and elbow bent 90 degrees.
—Mallory Creveling, Women's Health, 23 Feb. 2023
Shaila Wunderlich, Country Living, 21 Feb. 2023
The cast iron statue is worth an estimated $1,000, Montgomery County police told USA TODAY.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023
But one benefit of politicians sparring on Twitter: More people are learning how their powerful gas stoves, perfect for searing steaks and heating up cast iron cookware, could adversely affect their health.
—WIRED, 12 Jan. 2023
Built in downtown Manhattan in 1890 as a manufacturing facility, this loft still has its original cast iron columns intact.
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 10 Jan. 2023
The cast iron construction is extremely rigid and durable (though perhaps not as much as rubber dumbbells) and coated in rubber for extra protection.
—Ellen Mcalpine, Men's Health, 6 Jan. 2023
The pasta is mixed with a creamy blend of two cheeses—cheddar and Monterey Jack—that is sprinkled with more shredded cheese and herbed panko crumbs, then baked in the miniature cast iron dish that it's served on.
—Emma Balter, Chron, 23 Nov. 2022
Owner Paige Lipari, a staple in the food world, carries really cool cast iron kettles, hosts extremely fun dinners—and somehow always has the perfect playlist.
—Maria Geyman, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2022
No Southerner's kitchen is complete without a cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven, a nonstick pan, and a stock pot big enough to feed a family-and those are just a few of the essentials.
—Christie Calucchia, Southern Living, 21 June 2021
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Adjective
The cast-iron material is long-lasting and easy to wash, and the two sizes make this set versatile for cooking many different dishes and portions.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2023
His choice cut is the snout, crisped in a cast-iron pan.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023
And the blades are mounted on cast-iron spindles, a sturdy material that withstands heat and dampens vibration.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2023
The cast-iron engine is dressed with the same Rochester four-barrel carburetor that's on the Chevy, and the power flows through the same four-speed automatic transmission, but there the resemblance ends.
—David E. Davis Jr., Car and Driver, 1 Mar. 2023
Medieval clergy used cast-iron tongs imprinted with patterns to hold the dough in place and quickly bake it over a fire.
—Joan Bailey, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
Step 2Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat.
—Christopher Michel, Country Living, 27 Feb. 2023
This bamboo and aluminum rack holds up to 30 pounds, but even with a full set of stainless-steel cookware and cast-iron skillets, mine has been rock-solid and sturdy.
—Matt Jancer, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2023
Switch hands and repeat sequence. vkbhat//Getty Images Wrist Rotation Grasp an unopened wine bottle or the handle of a cast-iron pan, keeping upper arm by side and elbow bent 90 degrees.
—Mallory Creveling, Women's Health, 23 Feb. 2023
Noun
Jotul Wood Stove Norwegian company Jotul has been handcrafting cast iron wood stoves and fireplace inserts since 1853.
—Shaila Wunderlich, Country Living, 21 Feb. 2023
The cast iron statue is worth an estimated $1,000, Montgomery County police told USA TODAY.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023
But one benefit of politicians sparring on Twitter: More people are learning how their powerful gas stoves, perfect for searing steaks and heating up cast iron cookware, could adversely affect their health.
—WIRED, 12 Jan. 2023
Built in downtown Manhattan in 1890 as a manufacturing facility, this loft still has its original cast iron columns intact.
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 10 Jan. 2023
The cast iron construction is extremely rigid and durable (though perhaps not as much as rubber dumbbells) and coated in rubber for extra protection.
—Ellen Mcalpine, Men's Health, 6 Jan. 2023
The pasta is mixed with a creamy blend of two cheeses—cheddar and Monterey Jack—that is sprinkled with more shredded cheese and herbed panko crumbs, then baked in the miniature cast iron dish that it's served on.
—Emma Balter, Chron, 23 Nov. 2022
Owner Paige Lipari, a staple in the food world, carries really cool cast iron kettles, hosts extremely fun dinners—and somehow always has the perfect playlist.
—Maria Geyman, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2022
No Southerner's kitchen is complete without a cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven, a nonstick pan, and a stock pot big enough to feed a family-and those are just a few of the essentials.
—Christie Calucchia, Southern Living, 21 June 2021
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cast-iron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near cast-iron
Cite this Entry
“Cast-iron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cast-iron. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
cast iron
noun
: a hard brittle alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon shaped by being poured into a mold while melted
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