cast (k st)v. cast, cast·ing, casts v.tr.1. a. To throw (something, especially something light): The angler cast the line. b. To throw with force; hurl: waves that cast driftwood far up on the shore. See Synonyms at throw. 2. To shed; molt. 3. To throw forth; drop: cast anchor. 4. To throw on the ground, as in wrestling. 5. To deposit or indicate (a ballot or vote). 6. To turn or direct: All eyes were cast upon the speaker. 7. To cause to fall onto or over something or in a certain direction, as if by throwing: candles casting light; cast aspersions on my character; findings that cast doubt on our hypothesis. 8. To bestow; confer: "The government I cast upon my brother" Shakespeare. 9. a. To roll or throw (dice, for example). b. To draw (lots). 10. To give birth to prematurely: The cow cast a calf. 11. To cause (hunting hounds) to scatter and circle in search of a lost scent. 12. a. To choose actors for (a play, for example). b. To assign a certain role to (an actor): cast her as the lead. c. To assign an actor to (a part): cast each role carefully. 13. To form (liquid metal, for example) into a particular shape by pouring into a mold. 14. To give a form to; arrange: decided to cast the book in three parts. 15. To contrive; devise: cast a plan. 16. To calculate or compute; add up (a column of figures). 17. To calculate astrologically: cast my horoscope. 18. To warp; twist: floorboards cast by age. 19. Nautical To turn (a ship); change to the opposite tack. v.intr.1. To throw something, especially to throw out a lure or bait at the end of a fishing line. 2. To add a column of figures; make calculations. 3. To make a conjecture or a forecast. 4. To receive form or shape in a mold. 5. To become warped. 6. To search for a lost scent in hunting with hounds. 7. Nautical a. To veer to leeward from a former course; fall off. b. To put about; tack. 8. To choose actors for the parts in a play, movie, or other theatrical presentation. 9. Obsolete To estimate; conjecture. n.1. a. The act or an instance of casting or throwing. b. The distance thrown. 2. a. A throwing of a fishing line or net into the water. b. The line or net thrown. 3. a. A throw of dice. b. The number thrown. 4. A stroke of fortune or fate; lot. 5. a. A direction or expression of the eyes. b. A slight squint. 6. Something, such as molted skin, that is thrown off, out, or away. 7. The addition of a column of figures; calculation. 8. A conjecture; a forecast. 9. a. The act of pouring molten material into a mold. b. The amount of molten material poured into a mold at a single operation. c. Something formed by this means: The sculpture was a bronze cast. 10. An impression formed in a mold or matrix; a mold: a cast of her face made in plaster. 11. A rigid dressing, usually made of gauze and plaster of Paris, used to immobilize an injured body part, as in a fracture or dislocation. Also called plaster cast. 12. The form in which something is made or constructed; arrangement: the close-set cast of her features. 13. Outward form or look; appearance: a suit of stylish cast. 14. Sort; type: fancied himself to be of a macho cast. 15. An inclination; tendency: her thoughtful cast of mind. 16. The actors in a play, movie, or other theatrical presentation. 17. A slight trace of color; a tinge. 18. A distortion of shape. 19. The circling of hounds to pick up a scent in hunting. 20. A pair of hawks released by a falconer at one time. See Synonyms at flock1. Phrasal Verbs: cast about/around1. To make a search; look: had to cast about for an hour, looking for a good campsite. 2. To devise means; contrive. cast off1. To discard; reject: cast off old clothing. 2. To let go; set loose: cast off a boat; cast off a line. 3. To make the last row of stitches in knitting. 4. Printing To estimate the space a mansucript will occupy when set into type. cast on To make the first row of stitches in knitting. cast out To drive out by force; expel. Idiom: cast (one's) lot with To join or side with for better or worse.
[Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta.] | 
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