word-vault

{ "term": "cast", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "cast", "heSheIt": "casts" }, "pastSimple": "cast", "pastParticiple": "cast", "ingForm": "casting" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to look, smile, etc. in a particular direction", "sensetop": "cast something + adv./prep.cast somebody something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She cast a welcoming smile in his direction.", "contextForm": "cast something + adv./prep." }, { "text": "I cast an angry look at him." }, { "text": "He groaned, casting his eyes to the ceiling." }, { "text": "She cast me a disapproving glance.", "contextForm": "cast somebody something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to make light, a shadow, etc. appear in a particular place", "sensetop": "cast somethingcast something + adv./prep.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Someone was standing in the dark **shadow cast** by the light.", "contextForm": "cast something" }, { "text": "The moon had **cast** a silvery **light** on the huts.", "contextForm": "cast something + adv./prep." }, { "text": "The setting sun cast an orange glow over the mountains." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to say, do or suggest something that makes people doubt something or think that somebody is less honest, good, etc.", "sensetop": "cast something on/upon somethingcast somethingcast something over somethingcast something into something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "This latest evidence **casts** serious **doubt** on his version of events.", "contextForm": "cast something on/upon something" }, { "text": "‘You know that I'm not one to **cast aspersions**,’ she said.", "contextForm": "cast something" }, { "text": "The sad news cast a shadow over the proceedings *(= made people feel unhappy)*.", "contextForm": "cast something over something" }, { "text": "The entire economic future of the islands was cast into doubt.", "contextForm": "cast something into something" }, { "text": "Her aim was clearly to cast suspicion upon their motives." }, { "text": "The allegations are casting a cloud over his re-election campaign." }, { "text": "The incident had cast a pall over their preparations for the World Cup." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to vote for somebody/something", "sensetop": "cast a/your vote/ballot (for somebody/something)", "examples": [ { "text": "He refused to cast a vote for either candidate." }, { "text": "How many of the registered voters will actually cast their ballots?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to choose actors to play the different parts in a film, play, etc.; to choose an actor to play a particular role", "sensetop": "cast somethingcast somebody (as somebody)", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "The play is being cast in both the US and Britain.", "contextForm": "cast something" }, { "text": "She has cast him as an ambitious lawyer in her latest movie.", "contextForm": "cast somebody (as somebody)" } ], "topics": ["Film and theatre"] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to describe or present somebody/yourself in a particular way", "sensetop": "cast somebody/yourself as somethingcast somebody/yourself in something", "examples": [ { "text": "He cast himself as the innocent victim of a hate campaign.", "contextForm": "cast somebody/yourself as something" }, { "text": "The press were quick to cast her in the role of the ‘other woman’.", "contextForm": "cast somebody/yourself in something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "to throw one end of a fishing line into a river, etc.", "sensetop": "cast (something)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "to throw somebody/something somewhere, especially using force", "sensetop": "cast somebody/something", "labels": "(literary)", "examples": [ { "text": "The priceless treasures had been cast into the Nile." }, { "text": "They cast anchor at nightfall." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "when a snake casts its skin, the skin comes off as part of a natural process", "sensetop": "cast something", "examples": [], "synonyms": "shed" }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "if a horse casts a shoe, the shoe comes off by accident", "sensetop": "cast something", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 11, "definition": "to shape hot liquid metal, etc. by pouring it into a hollow container (called a mould)", "sensetop": "cast something (in something)", "labels": "(figurative)", "examples": [ { "text": "a statue cast in bronze" }, { "text": "an artist **cast in the mould of** *(= very similar to)* Miró" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look at or examine something quickly", "examples": [ { "text": "Could you just run your eyes over this report?" }, { "text": "I cast my eyes around the room but couldn't see any familiar faces." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make a problem, etc. easier to understand", "examples": [ { "text": "Recent research has cast new light on the causes of the disease." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make a problem, etc. easier to understand", "examples": [ { "text": "Recent research has thrown new light on the causes of the disease." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make yourself think about something that happened in the past", "examples": [ { "text": "I want you to cast your minds back to the first time you met." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to consider a lot of different people, activities, possibilities, etc. when you are looking for something", "examples": [ { "text": "It’s worth casting your net wide when applying for your first job." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to use words that are thought to be magic and have the power to change or influence somebody/something", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be changed", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to use a method of choosing somebody/something that involves putting a number folded pieces of paper in a bag, one of them with a mark on it. People then take it in turns to take a piece of paper from the bag and the one who takes the paper with the mark on it is chosen.", "examples": [ { "text": "They drew lots for the right to go first." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to stop caring about how dangerous something might be; to start taking risks", "examples": [ { "text": "He threw caution to the wind and dived into the water after the child." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/kɑːst/", "audio": "ca/cast/cast__gb_5.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/kɑːsts/", "audio": "ca/cast/casts__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈkɑːstɪŋ/", "audio": "ca/cast/casting__gb_5.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/kæst/", "audio": "ca/cast/cast__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/kæsts/", "audio": "ca/cast/casts__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈkæstɪŋ/", "audio": "ca/cast/casting__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "verb senses 1 to 7 and verb senses 10 to 11 Middle English: from Old Norse kasta ‘to cast or throw’. verb senses 8 to 9 mid 17th cent.: a special use of the original meaning of cast,in sense (11) of the verb." }