/ kɑːst; NAmE kæst/ verb , noun
■ verb
( cast , cast )
A LOOK / GLANCE / SMILE
1.
to look, smile, etc. in a particular direction :
[ vn ]
She cast a welcoming smile in his direction.
[also vnn ]
LIGHT / A SHADOW
2.
[ vn ] to make light, a shadow, etc. appear in a particular place :
The setting sun cast an orange glow over the mountains.
( figurative )
The sad news cast a shadow over the proceedings (= made people feel unhappy) .
DOUBT
3.
[ vn ] cast doubt / aspersions (on / upon sth) to say, do or suggest sth that makes people doubt sth or think that sb is less honest, good, etc. :
This latest evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.
FISHING LINE
4.
[ v , vn ] to throw one end of a fishing line into a river, etc.
THROW
5.
[ vn ] ( literary ) to throw sb/sth somewhere, especially using force :
The priceless treasures had been cast into the Nile.
They cast anchor at nightfall.
SKIN
6.
[ vn ] when a snake casts its skin, the skin comes off as part of a natural process
SYN shed
SHOE
7.
[ vn ] if a horse casts a shoe, the shoe comes off by accident
ACTORS
8.
cast sb (as sb) to choose actors to play the different parts in a film / movie, play, etc.; to choose an actor to play a particular role :
[ vn ]
The play is being cast in both the US and Britain.
He has cast her as an ambitious lawyer in his latest movie.
[also v ]
DESCRIBE
9.
[ vn ] cast sb (as sth) | cast sb (in sth) to describe or present sb in a particular way :
He cast himself as the innocent victim of a hate campaign.
The press were quick to cast her in the role of 'the other woman'.
VOTE
10.
[ vn ] cast a / your vote / ballot (for sb/sth) to vote for sb/sth
SHAPE METAL
11.
[ vn ] cast sth (in sth) to shape hot liquid metal, etc. by pouring it into a hollow container (called a mould ) :
a statue cast in bronze
( figurative )
an artist cast in the mould of (= very similar to) Miro
•
IDIOMS
- cast your mind back (to sth)
- cast your net wide
- cast a spell (on sb/sth)
—more at adrift , caution noun , die noun , eye noun , light noun , lot noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- cast about / around for sth
- cast sb/sth aside
- be cast away
- be cast down (by sth)
- cast off | cast sth off
- cast sth off
- cast on | cast sth on
- cast sb/sth out
■ noun
ACTORS
1.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] all the people who act in a play or film / movie :
The whole cast performs / perform brilliantly.
members of the cast
an all-star cast (= including many well-known actors)
the supporting cast (= not the main actors, but the others)
a cast list
IN SHAPING METAL
2.
[ C ] an object that is made by pouring hot liquid metal, etc. into a mould (= a specially shaped container)
3.
[ C ] a shaped container used to make an object
SYN mould
APPEARANCE
4.
[ sing. ] ( BrE , formal ) the way that a person or thing is or appears :
He has an unusual cast of mind .
I disliked the arrogant cast to her mouth.
THROW
5.
[ C ] an act of throwing sth, especially a fishing line
ON ARM / LEG
6.
[ C ] = plaster cast :
Her leg's in a cast .
—see also opencast
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb senses 1 to 7 and verb senses 10 to 11 noun senses 2 to 6 Middle English : from Old Norse kasta to cast or throw.
verb senses 8 to 9 and noun sense 1 mid 17th cent.: a special use of the original meaning of cast,in sense 11 of the verb.