Casting

How to spell casting

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce casting

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does casting mean?

1. nounThe process of choosing actors or performers for the roles in a production.
2. nounAn object formed by pouring molten metal into a mould, or the act of making it.
3. nounThe act of throwing a fishing line or net out into the water.

Casting in a sentence

• The director praised the casting of the lead actress.

• The foundry produced a bronze casting for the new statue.

• Smooth casting takes practice with a heavy rod.

• A casting agency handles auditions for the new drama series.

• Each iron casting was inspected for cracks before shipping.

• His casting technique improved after a weekend on the river.

Where does casting come from?

Language of origin: Old Norse

The base verb 'cast' came into Middle English in the 1200s from the Old Norse word 'kasta', which meant simply 'to throw'. Scandinavian settlers gave English this blunt, practical word, and over the centuries 'cast' branched into many specialised meanings while keeping that core idea of throwing or placing something. By the 1400s people spoke of 'casting' metal, because molten material was poured (in effect thrown) into a mould, and the resulting solid shape took the same name. The theatrical sense, choosing and 'throwing' performers into their roles, grew up later from the same metaphor of assigning a part. Because the word is built so plainly from 'cast' plus the familiar '-ing' ending, the spelling is regular; the only thing to watch is the single 's' and single 't', with no doubling.

How the word is built

• cast (from Old Norse kasta, to throw)
• -ing (noun/gerund suffix)