plaster cast

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
cast1

▶verb (past and past part. cast)

• 1 throw forcefully in a specified direction.

  ■ throw so as to spread over an area.

• 2 cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface.

  ■ direct (one's eyes or thoughts) towards something.

  ■ cause to be associated with something: journalists cast doubt on this version of events.

• 3 shed or discard (something).

• 4 shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mould while molten.

  ■ arrange and present in a specified form or style.

• 5 register (a vote).

• 6 throw the hooked and baited end of (a fishing line) out into the water.

• 7 cause (a magic spell) to take effect.

• 8 calculate and record details of (a horoscope).

• 9 Hunting let loose (hounds) on a scent.

  ■ search around for a scent.

▶noun

• 1 an object made by casting metal or other material.

• 2 (also plaster cast) a mould used to make such an object.

  ■ a bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris, moulded to support and protect a broken limb.

• 3 an act of casting something.

  ■ Brit. the leader of a fishing line.

• 4 form, appearance, or character: she had a somewhat masculine cast of countenance.

• 5 a slight squint.

• 6 short for worm cast.

• 7 a pellet regurgitated by a hawk or owl.

• 8 a wide sweep made by a dog or pack of hounds.

– phrasal verbs
cast about (or around or round) search far and wide.
be cast away be stranded after a shipwreck.
be cast down feel depressed.
cast off (or cast something off)

• 1 Knitting take the stitches off the needle by looping each over the next to finish the edge.

• 2 set a boat or ship free from her moorings.

• 3 let loose a hunting hound or hawk.

• 4 Printing estimate the space that will be taken in print by manuscript copy.

cast on (or cast something on) Knitting make the first row of a specified number of loops on the needle.

– derivatives
casting noun.

– origin ME: from ON kasta ‘to cast or throw’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
cast2

▶noun the actors taking part in a play or film. ▶verb (past and past part. cast) assign a part to (an actor).

■ allocate parts in (a play or film).

– origin C17: a special use of cast1.