cast
noun
Definitions of cast noun
performance
- B2CountableSingular/Plural verb
The group of actors who perform in a movie, play, or show.
After the final show, the director organized a celebration for the entire cast.
The film's success is partly due to the strong supporting cast.
The production brought together a talented cast of performers.
object
- Countable
An object formed by pouring a molten substance into a mold and letting it solidify.
The sculpture was created using bronze casts.
This car part is a high-quality cast.
medical
- Countable
A protective shell made of plaster used to support and immobilize a broken bone.
The doctor put a cast on his leg.
She needed physical therapy after the cast was removed.
Phrases of cast noun
- in a cast
When a part of your body is in a cast, it means that it is encased in a plaster cast to protect a broken bone while it heals.
• He has a leg in a cast after breaking it while skiing.
verb
Definitions of cast verb
selection
- C2Transitive
To select actors to play specific roles in a performance or production.
He was often cast in the role of the antagonist.
In her new film, she was cast in a role that was very different from her usual.
They often cast the opposing party as the proponents of higher taxation.
light
- C2TransitiveVerb + adv/prep
To project light or shadow in a particular direction.
The moonlight cast a gentle light into the room.
The tree cast a shadow on his face.
Her arrival cast a pall over the party.
action
- TransitiveVerb + adv/prepliterary
To throw something with force or direction.
He cast the bait far out into the river.
She cast the stone into the water.
The sailor cast the rope towards the dock.
fishing
- TransitiveIntransitive
To throw a fishing line or net into the water.
He cast his line towards the center of the river.
The fisherman cast his net into the sea.
He patiently cast his line, waiting for a fish to bite.
creation
- Transitive
To create an object by pouring a molten material into a mold.
They cast a new statue.
The bell was cast in bronze.
shedding
- Transitive
When a snake sheds or loses its outer layer of skin.
The snake is casting its skin.
We found a cast-off snakeskin in the garden.
Phrases of cast verb
- cast light on something
To provide an explanation or new information that clarifies a situation or problem, making it easier to understand.
• This study aims to cast light on the long-neglected issue.
- cast a spell
To use words believed to have magical power, often to influence someone or something.
• The old witch cast a spell on the prince, turning him into a frog.
- cast your mind back
to make an effort to remember something from the past
• If you cast your mind back, you might recall that I never promised to go.
- cast a look, glance, smile, etc.
To direct one's gaze, a smile, or a similar expression in a specified direction.
• She cast a quick look in the rearview mirror.
- cast an/your eye over something
To quickly look at or examine something.
• Could you cast an eye over this report for me?
- cast doubt/suspicion on someone/something
to cause uncertainty or a lack of trust in someone or something.
• The new evidence casts doubt on the original guilty verdict.
- cast aspersions on someone/something
To make critical and often damaging remarks or judgments about someone or something.
• Despite the overwhelming evidence, he tried to cast aspersions on the witness's testimony.
- cast a/your vote
To formally register a vote in an election or poll.
• Voters lined up at the polling station, ready to cast their sacred vote.
Idioms
- cast pearls before swine
To offer something valuable or of high quality to someone who does not appreciate or understand its worth.
• Trying to explain the severity of climate change to those who don't care about the environment is like casting pearls before swine.
- cast your net wide
To broaden one's search to include a wide range of people or things.
• To find the right candidate, they decided to cast their net wide and reach out to professionals from various industries.
- be cast away
to be stranded in a remote place, such as an uninhabited island, usually as a result of surviving a shipwreck.
• After days of drifting at sea, they were cast away on a desolate islet.
- cast someone adrift
To abandon someone or to leave them without support or assistance.
• After the company restructured, many employees found themselves cast adrift and had to find new opportunities.
- cast someone/something adrift
To abandon or leave someone or something, such as a small boat, to float uncontrollably on water; to leave without guidance or support.
• Due to economic hardship, many fishermen were forced to cast their old boats adrift at sea.
- be cast in the same mould
to have very similar characteristics, personalities, or behaviors as another person; to be very much alike
• The two brothers have almost identical personalities; it's like they were cast in the same mould.
Phrasal Verbs of cast
- cast off
When a boat casts off, it departs from the shore.
• The crew is ready to cast off at dawn.
- cast around
to search for something by examining different possibilities
• While looking for a job, he cast around for various opportunities.
- cast on
to begin a knitting project by creating initial loops of yarn.
• Before starting to knit the scarf, I need to cast on. It's called casting on.
- cast someone/something aside/away/off
to discard someone or something
• They decided to cast aside the outdated technologies.
- cast someone/something out
to remove someone or something, often in a forceful manner
• At the meeting, they decided to cast out the unnecessary content to focus on discussing important issues.