Definition

1. Noun:
   • The selection of actors for roles in a play, film, or other production: The process of choosing performers to portray specific characters.
   • The act of throwing something, especially a fishing line or net: The action of propelling a fishing line or similar object using a rod or the arm.
   • The process of shaping a material by pouring it into a mold: The manufacturing technique of creating an object by pouring a liquid or malleable substance into a hollow form.
   • An object created by this molding process: The final product that has been formed in a mold.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The director spent weeks on the casting for the new film.
  • His fly casting technique is very graceful and precise.
  • Bronze casting is an ancient art form.
  • The museum displayed a beautiful casting of a Roman statue.

Advanced Usage

• "Casting call": A public announcement or invitation for actors to audition for roles.

  • The production company issued a casting call for child actors.

• "Casting vote": A deciding vote cast by a chairperson or presiding officer when votes are otherwise equally divided.

  • The committee was tied, so the chair used her casting vote to pass the motion.

• "Casting couch": (Idiomatic, often pejorative) Refers to the practice of trading sexual favors for roles in the entertainment industry.

  • The scandal exposed the dark side of the industry's so-called casting couch.

Variants and Related Words

• Cast (verb/noun): The root word. As a verb: to throw, to shape in a mold, to select actors. As a noun: the group of actors in a production; an object made by casting.

  • They will cast the lead role tomorrow. (Verb)
  • The entire cast performed brilliantly. (Noun)

• Typecasting (noun): The repeated assignment of an actor to the same type of role, based on their appearance or previous performances.

  • The actor struggled to avoid typecasting after his famous role as a villain.

Synonyms

• Selection (for actor choice): The action of carefully choosing someone or something.
• Molding/Forming (for the manufacturing process): The process of shaping a material.
• Throw (for the fishing action): The act of propelling something through the air.

Related Phrases

• Casting aside/off/out: (Phrasal verbs from the root verb 'cast') To discard, reject, or throw away.

  • He cast aside his old doubts and decided to try again.

• Casting about/around for: (Phrasal verb) To search or look for something in a wide or hurried manner.

  • She was casting about for a new career path.

Related Idioms

• Cast in the same mold: To be very similar in character or nature.

  • The two leaders were cast in the same mold—both were stubborn and charismatic.

• Cast the first stone: To be the first to criticize or blame someone, often implying one is not without fault oneself.

  • None of us is perfect, so we shouldn't be quick to cast the first stone.

Noun

1. the choice of actors to play particular roles in a play or movie
2. the act of throwing a fishing line out over the water by means of a rod and reel
3. the act of creating something by casting it in a mold
4. object formed by a mold