cast1

verb (past and past participle cast)

• 1 [usually with adverbial of direction] chiefly literary throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction:he cast the book down on to the chair angrily the fishermen cast a large net around a school of tuna figurativeindividuals who do not accept the norms are cast out from the group
• throw the hooked and baited end of (a fishing line) out into the water.
• let down (an anchor or sounding line).

• 2 [with adverbial of place] cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface:the moon cast a pale light over the cottages
• [with adverbial of direction] direct (one’s eyes or a look) at something:she cast down her eyes [with two objects]:she cast him a desperate glance
• cause (uncertainty or disparagement) to be associated with something:journalists cast doubt on the government’s version of events

• 3 [with adverbial of direction] discard:he jumped in, casting caution to the wind
• shed (skin or horns) in the process of growth:the antlers are cast each year
• (of a horse) lose (a shoe).

• 4shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mould while molten: when hammered or cast, bronze could be made into tools
• make (a moulded object) by casting metal:a bell was cast for the church
• arrange and present in a specified form or style:he issued statements cast in tones of reason

• 5register (a vote):votes have been cast in 40 per cent of the seats

• 6cause (a magic spell) to take effect:the witch cast a spell on her to turn her into a beast figurativethe city casts a spell on the visitor

• 7calculate and record details of (a horoscope): you can look at the star chart cast at somebody’s birth

• 8 [no object, usually with adverbial of direction] (in country dancing) change one’s position by moving a certain number of places in a certain direction along the outside of the line in which one is dancing: cross the set and cast down one place

• 9 [no object] Hunting (of a dog) search in different directions for a lost scent:the dog cast furiously for the vanished rabbit
• [with object] let loose (hounds) on a scent: casting the hounds into cover, we stood and listened

• 10immobilize (an animal, especially a cow) by using a rope to cause it to fall on its side.

noun

• 1an object made by shaping molten metal or similar material in a mould:bronze casts of the sculpture
• (also plaster cast) a mould used to make an object by casting: the artist’s casts and moulds became the property of the museum
• (also plaster cast) a bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris, moulded to the shape of a limb that is broken and used to support and protect it: I had to spend a month in a cast

• 2an act of throwing something forcefully:he grabbed a spear for a third cast
• Fishing a throw of a fishing line: I swung the rod out for a cast
• British the leader of a fishing line.
• archaic a throw or a number thrown at dice:'tis no winning cast

• 3 [in singular, with adjective or noun modifier] the form or appearance of something, especially someone’s features or complexion:she had a somewhat masculine cast of countenance the colours he wore emphasized the olive cast of his skin
• the character of something:this question is for minds of a more philosophical cast than mine

• 4a slight squint:he had a cast in one eye

• 5short for worm cast.

• 6a pellet regurgitated by a hawk or owl.

• 7 Hunting a wide search made by a hound or pack of hounds to find a trail.
• Australian/NZ a wide sweep made by a sheepdog in mustering sheep.