- cast iron
- noun Date: 1664 a commercial alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon that is cast in a mold and is hard, brittle, nonmalleable, and incapable of being hammer-welded but more easily fusible than steel
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
cast iron
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Cast iron — Iron I ron ([imac] [u^]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [=i]ren, [=i]sen, [=i]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [=i]sarn, OHG. [=i]sarn, [=i]san, G. eisen, Icel. [=i]sarn, j[=a]rn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn.]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cast iron — Iron I ron ([imac] [u^]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [=i]ren, [=i]sen, [=i]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [=i]sarn, OHG. [=i]sarn, [=i]san, G. eisen, Icel. [=i]sarn, j[=a]rn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn.]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cast-iron — adjective 1. ) made of cast iron 2. ) very definite, and certain to be effective: She claims to have a cast iron alibi. cast iron safety procedures 3. ) very strong, or able to deal with difficult conditions: a cast iron stomach cast iron nerves … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
cast-iron — adj 1.) a cast iron excuse/alibi/guarantee etc an excuse etc that is very certain and cannot fail 2.) made of cast iron ▪ a cast iron frying pan … Dictionary of contemporary English
cast-iron — adj 1.) a cast iron excuse/alibi/guarantee etc an excuse etc that is very certain and cannot fail 2.) made of cast iron ▪ a cast iron frying pan … Dictionary of contemporary English
Cast-iron — Cast i ron, a. Made of cast iron. Hence, Fig.: like cast iron; hardy; unyielding. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cast-iron — cast′ i′ron adj. 1) made of cast iron 2) not subject to change or exception: a cast iron rule[/ex] 3) hardy: a cast iron stomach[/ex] • Etymology: 1655–65 … From formal English to slang
cast iron — ► NOUN 1) a hard alloy of iron and carbon which can be readily cast in a mould. 2) (before another noun ) firm and unchangeable: a cast iron guarantee … English terms dictionary
Cast iron — Cast i ron Highly carbonized iron, the direct product of the blast furnace; used for making castings, and for conversion into wrought iron and steel. It can not be welded or forged, is brittle, and sometimes very hard. Besides carbon, it contains … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cast iron — 1660s, from cast (pp. adj.) made by melting and being left to harden in a mold (1530s), from CAST (Cf. cast) (v.) in sense to throw something in a particular way (c.1300) … Etymology dictionary
cast-iron — [kast′ī′ərn] adj. 1. made of cast iron 2. very hard, rigid, strong, healthy, etc … English World dictionary
