n.
Pronunciation: ' kast
Function: verb
Inflected Form: cast ; cast · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse kasta; akin to Old Norse k ỏ s 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 cast s 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 \ ˌ kas-t ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– cast · able \ ' kas-t ə -b ə l \ adjective
– cast lots : to draw lots to determine a matter by chance