cast
cast Lexical Profile
cast Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The complete group of actors taking part in a play, film, opera, or television production.
"The entire cast gathered on stage to take a final bow as the audience applauded."
A rigid protective dressing made of plaster or fiberglass, molded around a broken limb or joint to immobilize it while the bone heals.
"After falling from his bicycle, the boy had to wear a fiberglass cast on his wrist for six weeks."
An act of throwing something, especially a fishing line, net, or dice.
"With one smooth cast of his fishing rod, the angler dropped the lure beside the submerged log."
An object made by shaping molten metal, plaster, or similar liquid material in a mold.
"The museum displayed a plaster cast of the ancient Greek marble statue."
A slight tint of color, or the distinctive overall character, appearance, or inclination of someone's features or mind.
"The evening light gave the snow-covered hills a faint pinkish cast."
• verb
To cause light, a shadow, a look, or a mental influence such as doubt or a spell to fall upon a surface, person, or situation.
"The ancient oak tree cast a cool shadow across the stone courtyard."
To assign a part in a play, film, or other production to an actor, or to select the actors for a performance.
"The director decided to cast an unknown newcomer in the leading role."
To register or submit a ballot or vote formally in an election or assembly.
"Citizens stood in line for hours to cast their ballots in the municipal election."
To throw or hurl something forcefully in a specified direction, or to send out a fishing line or net into the water.
"The fishermen woke before dawn to cast their nets into the calm bay."
To shape molten metal, liquid plaster, or glass by pouring it into a hollow mold to solidify.
"The sculptor had the clay model cast in bronze at a local foundry."
• adjective
Formed by pouring molten metal or other liquid material into a mold and allowing it to harden.
"She prefers cooking with a heavy cast iron skillet because it retains heat evenly."
Thrown off, shed, or discarded as no longer needed or useful.
"The naturalist found the cast skin of a garter snake tangled in the dry brush."
Word Nuance & Usage
The standard past tense and past participle of the verb 'cast' is 'cast', not 'casted' (though 'casted' occasionally appears in nonstandard speech, especially in theatrical or gaming contexts).
• Rhymes for cast
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old Norse 'kasta', meaning 'to throw', which displaced the native Old English verb 'weorpan' (the ancestor of modern 'warp').