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REFERENCE

cast

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈkæst// UK //kˈɑːst// cast
Irregular verb past cast past participle cast
  1. 1 to throw (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate fishing

    to throw something, especially something light or a fishing line.

    to throw or project something with a quick motion; frequently used in the context of fishing or throwing dice.

    Example

    The fisherman cast his line into the middle of the lake.

    Example

    He cast the net with a fluid, practiced motion, hoping to catch the school of fish before they moved into deeper waters.
  2. 2 to choose actors (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    to choose which actors will play the parts in a film or play.

    to assign roles to actors in a dramatic production.

    Example

    The director cast a famous actress as the lead character.

    Example

    After weeks of auditions, the producers finally cast a relatively unknown teenager in the title role of the upcoming musical.
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  1. 3 to direct light or eyes (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to look at something or to make a shadow or light fall on a surface.

    to direct one's gaze or to cause light or shadow to fall in a specific direction.

    Example

    The tall trees cast long shadows across the grass.

    Example

    She cast a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure no one was following her through the narrow alleyway.
  2. 4 to vote (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

    to officially give your vote in an election.

    to formally register a vote or deposit a ballot.

    Example

    Millions of people went to the stations to cast their votes.

    Example

    Citizens are encouraged to cast their ballots early to avoid long queues on the actual day of the election.
  3. 5 to shape metal (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    to make an object by pouring hot, liquid metal into a shaped container.

    to shape molten material by pouring it into a mould and allowing it to harden.

    Example

    The artist cast the statue in bronze.

    Example

    The factory specializes in casting engine parts from high-grade aluminum to ensure they are both lightweight and durable.
  4. 6 to perform magic (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    to say words that are supposed to have magical powers.

    to perform or initiate a magical spell or enchantment.

    Example

    The wizard cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.

    Example

    In the old legends, the witch cast a powerful enchantment over the forest that lasted for a hundred years.
  5. 7 group of actors (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Theatre

    all the actors who act in a play, film, or show.

    the collective group of performers in a dramatic production, distinct from the technical crew.

    Example

    The entire cast came on stage at the end of the play.

    Example

    The director praised the cast for their exceptional performance during the opening night of the Shakespearean tragedy.
  6. 8 medical bandage (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a hard, white cover put around a broken bone to keep it still while it heals.

    a rigid, protective dressing, usually made of plaster or fiberglass, used to immobilize a fractured limb.

    Example

    I had to wear a cast on my leg for six weeks after I fell.

    Example

    The surgeon checked the cast to ensure it wasn't too tight and that blood was still circulating properly to the patient's toes.
  7. 9 appearance or character (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Formal

    the general look or character of something, like a person's face or mind.

    the general appearance, style, or character of a person or thing; often used regarding a 'cast of mind'.

    Example

    He has a very serious cast of mind and rarely tells jokes.

    Example

    The philosopher's particular cast of mind led him to question even the most basic assumptions of his contemporaries.
  8. 10 stuck animal (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    used to describe an animal, like a sheep, that has fallen on its back and cannot get up.

    referring to a large animal that is lying in a position from which it cannot rise without assistance.

    Example

    The farmer had to help the cast sheep get back on its feet.

    Example

    A cast horse can quickly become distressed and injure itself if it is not found and assisted by a handler immediately.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kas- Proto-Germanic *kastōną Old Norse kastabor. Middle English casten English cast From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots cast (“to cast, throw”), Danish kaste (“to throw”), Swedish kasta (“to throw, cast, fling, toss, discard”), Icelandic kasta (“to pitch, toss”). In the sense of "flinging", displaced native warp. The senses relating to broadcasting are based on that same term; compare -cast.

Word family
Idioms17 entries

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