cast

¹cast

verb \ˈkast\

castcast·ing

Definition of CAST

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

— 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

Examples of CAST

1. Seaweed was cast up by the waves.
2. The tree cast a long shadow on the lawn.
3. How many votes were cast?

Origin of CAST

Middle English, from Old Norse kasta; akin to Old Norse kǫs heap

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CAST

Synonyms: emit, discharge, emanate, evolve, exhale, expel, expire [archaic], give out, irradiate, issue, radiate, release, send (out), shoot, throw out, vent

Related Words: eliminate, evacuate, excrete, exude, ooze, secrete; eject, erupt, gush, jet, outpour, pour, spew, spout, spray, spurt, squirt

Near Antonyms: absorb, inhale, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at discard, throw

Rhymes with CAST

bast, blast, clast, fast, gast, ghast, last, mast, Nast, past, vast