cast
♦♦ cast /k'ɑːst, k'æst/ (casts casting)
The form cast is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1 [N-COUNT-COLL]
The cast of a play or film is all the people who act in it.
The show is very amusing and the cast are very good.
2 [VERB] V n in/as n, V n in/as n, V n
To cast an actor in a play or film means to choose them to act a particular role in it.
The world premiere of Harold Pinter's new play casts Ian Holm in the lead role...
He was cast as a college professor...
He had no trouble casting the movie.
● casting [N-UNCOUNT] oft N of n, N n
...the casting director of Ealing film studios.
3 [VERB] V n as/in n, V pron-refl as/in n
To cast someone in a particular way or as a particular thing means to describe them in that way or suggest they are that thing.
Democrats have been worried about being cast as the party of the poor...
Holland would never dare cast himself as a virtuoso pianist.
4 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V n
If you cast your eyes or cast a look in a particular direction, you look quickly in that direction. (WRITTEN)
He cast a stern glance at the two men...
I cast my eyes down briefly...
The maid, casting black looks, hurried out.
5 [VERB] V n prep, V n
If something casts a light or shadow somewhere, it causes it to appear there. (WRITTEN)
The moon cast a bright light over the yard...
They flew in over the beach, casting a huge shadow.
6 [VERB] V n on n
To cast doubt on something means to cause people to be unsure about it.
Last night a top criminal psychologist cast doubt on the theory.
7 [VERB] V n, V-ed
When you cast your vote in an election, you vote.
About ninety-five per cent of those who cast their votes approve the new constitution...
Gaviria had been widely expected to obtain well over half the votes cast.
8 [VERB] V n prep, have n V-ed prep
To cast something or someone somewhere means to throw them there. (LITERARY)
Any true lover casting a pin into the fountain and gazing into it will see his or her future partner...
John had Maude and her son cast into a dungeon.
9 [VERB] V-ed in n
To cast an object means to make it by pouring a liquid such as hot metal into a specially shaped container and leaving it there until it becomes hard.
...sculptures cast in bronze.
10 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A cast is a model that has been made by pouring a liquid such as plaster or hot metal onto something or into something, so that when it hardens it has the same shape as that thing.
An orthodontist took a cast of the inside of Billy's mouth.
11 [N-COUNT]
A cast is the same as a plaster cast.
12
see also casting
13
to cast aspersions: see aspersions
the die is cast: see die
to cast your mind back: see mind
to cast your net wider: see netcast around for
[PHRASAL VERB] V P P n
If you cast around for something or cast about for it, you try to find it or think of it. (in BRIT, also use cast about for)
She had been casting around for a good excuse to go to New York.cast aside
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you cast aside someone or something, you get rid of them because they are no longer necessary or useful to you.
Sweden needs to cast aside outdated policies and thinking...cast iron
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Cast iron is iron which contains a small amount of carbon. It is hard and cannot be bent so it has to be made into objects by casting.
Made from cast iron, it is finished in graphite enamel.
...the cast-iron chair legs.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A cast-iron guarantee or alibi is one that is absolutely certain to be effective and will not fail you.
They would have to offer cast-iron guarantees to invest in long-term projects.cast off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you cast off something, you get rid of it because it is no longer necessary or useful to you, or because it is harmful to you. (LITERARY)
The essay exhorts women to cast off their servitude to husbands and priests...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you are on a boat and you cast off, you untie the rope that is keeping the boat in a fixed position.
He cast off, heading out to the bay.plas|ter cast (plaster casts)
1 [N-COUNT]
A plaster cast is a cover made of plaster of Paris which is used to protect a broken bone by keeping part of the body stiff.
2 [N-COUNT]
A plaster cast is a copy of a statue or other object, made from plaster of Paris.
...a plaster cast of the Venus de Milo.
The form cast is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1 [N-COUNT-COLL]
The cast of a play or film is all the people who act in it.
The show is very amusing and the cast are very good.
2 [VERB] V n in/as n, V n in/as n, V n
To cast an actor in a play or film means to choose them to act a particular role in it.
The world premiere of Harold Pinter's new play casts Ian Holm in the lead role...
He was cast as a college professor...
He had no trouble casting the movie.
● casting [N-UNCOUNT] oft N of n, N n
...the casting director of Ealing film studios.
3 [VERB] V n as/in n, V pron-refl as/in n
To cast someone in a particular way or as a particular thing means to describe them in that way or suggest they are that thing.
Democrats have been worried about being cast as the party of the poor...
Holland would never dare cast himself as a virtuoso pianist.
4 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V n
If you cast your eyes or cast a look in a particular direction, you look quickly in that direction. (WRITTEN)
He cast a stern glance at the two men...
I cast my eyes down briefly...
The maid, casting black looks, hurried out.
5 [VERB] V n prep, V n
If something casts a light or shadow somewhere, it causes it to appear there. (WRITTEN)
The moon cast a bright light over the yard...
They flew in over the beach, casting a huge shadow.
6 [VERB] V n on n
To cast doubt on something means to cause people to be unsure about it.
Last night a top criminal psychologist cast doubt on the theory.
7 [VERB] V n, V-ed
When you cast your vote in an election, you vote.
About ninety-five per cent of those who cast their votes approve the new constitution...
Gaviria had been widely expected to obtain well over half the votes cast.
8 [VERB] V n prep, have n V-ed prep
To cast something or someone somewhere means to throw them there. (LITERARY)
Any true lover casting a pin into the fountain and gazing into it will see his or her future partner...
John had Maude and her son cast into a dungeon.
9 [VERB] V-ed in n
To cast an object means to make it by pouring a liquid such as hot metal into a specially shaped container and leaving it there until it becomes hard.
...sculptures cast in bronze.
10 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A cast is a model that has been made by pouring a liquid such as plaster or hot metal onto something or into something, so that when it hardens it has the same shape as that thing.
An orthodontist took a cast of the inside of Billy's mouth.
11 [N-COUNT]
A cast is the same as a plaster cast.
12
see also casting
13
to cast aspersions: see aspersions
the die is cast: see die
to cast your mind back: see mind
to cast your net wider: see netcast around for
[PHRASAL VERB] V P P n
If you cast around for something or cast about for it, you try to find it or think of it. (in BRIT, also use cast about for)
She had been casting around for a good excuse to go to New York.cast aside
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you cast aside someone or something, you get rid of them because they are no longer necessary or useful to you.
Sweden needs to cast aside outdated policies and thinking...cast iron
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Cast iron is iron which contains a small amount of carbon. It is hard and cannot be bent so it has to be made into objects by casting.
Made from cast iron, it is finished in graphite enamel.
...the cast-iron chair legs.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A cast-iron guarantee or alibi is one that is absolutely certain to be effective and will not fail you.
They would have to offer cast-iron guarantees to invest in long-term projects.cast off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you cast off something, you get rid of it because it is no longer necessary or useful to you, or because it is harmful to you. (LITERARY)
The essay exhorts women to cast off their servitude to husbands and priests...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you are on a boat and you cast off, you untie the rope that is keeping the boat in a fixed position.
He cast off, heading out to the bay.plas|ter cast (plaster casts)
1 [N-COUNT]
A plaster cast is a cover made of plaster of Paris which is used to protect a broken bone by keeping part of the body stiff.
2 [N-COUNT]
A plaster cast is a copy of a statue or other object, made from plaster of Paris.
...a plaster cast of the Venus de Milo.