Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

cas|ti|gate /kæ st I ge I t/ (castigates , castigating , castigated ) VERB If you castigate someone or something, you speak to them angrily or criticize them severely. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Marx never lost an opportunity to castigate colonialism. □ [V n + for ] She castigated him for having no intellectual interests. ●  cas|ti|ga|tion /kæ st I ge I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …Bradley's public castigation of the police chief.

cast|ing /kɑː st I ŋ, kæ st-/ (castings )

1 N‑COUNT A casting is an object or piece of machinery which has been made by pouring a liquid such as hot metal into a container, so that when it hardens it has the required shape.

2 → see also cast

ca st|ing vo te (casting votes ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] When a committee has given an equal number of votes for and against a proposal, the chairperson can give a casting vote . This vote decides whether or not the proposal will be passed. □  Only Mr King's casting vote secured the rate rise.

ca st i ron

1 N‑UNCOUNT Cast iron is iron which contains a small amount of carbon. It is hard and cannot be bent so it has to be made into objects by casting. □  Made from cast iron, it is finished in graphite enamel. □  …the cast-iron chair legs.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A cast-iron guarantee or alibi is one that is absolutely certain to be effective and will not fail you. □  They would have to offer cast-iron guarantees to invest in long-term projects.

cas|tle ◆◇◇ /kɑː s ^ə l, kæ s ^ə l/ (castles )

1 N‑COUNT A castle is a large building with thick, high walls. Castles were built by important people, such as kings, in former times, especially for protection during wars and battles.

2 → see also sand castle

3 N‑COUNT In chess, a castle is a piece that can be moved forwards, backwards, or sideways.

ca st-off (cast-offs ) also castoff ADJ [ADJ n] Cast-off things, especially clothes, are ones which someone no longer uses because they are old or unfashionable, and which they give to someone else or throw away. □  Alexandra looked plump and awkward in her cast-off clothing. ● N‑COUNT [usu pl] Cast-off is also a noun. □  I never had anything new to wear as a child, only a cousin's cast-offs.

cas|tor /kɑː stə ^r , kæ st-/ (castors ) also caster N‑COUNT Castors are small wheels fitted to a piece of furniture so that it can be moved more easily.

ca s|tor oil N‑UNCOUNT Castor oil is a thick yellow oil that is obtained from the seeds of the castor oil plant. It has a very unpleasant taste and in former times was used as a medicine.

ca s|tor sug|ar → see caster sugar

cas|trate /kæstre I t, [AM ] kæ stre I t/ (castrates , castrating , castrated ) VERB To castrate a male animal or a man means to remove his testicles. □ [V n] In the ancient world, it was probably rare to castrate a dog or cat. □ [V -ed] …a castrated male horse. ●  cas|tra|tion /kæstre I ʃ ^ə n/ (castrations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …the castration of male farm animals.

cas|ual /kæ ʒuəl/

1 ADJ If you are casual , you are, or you pretend to be, relaxed and not very concerned about what is happening or what you are doing. □ [+ about ] It's difficult for me to be casual about anything. □  He's an easy-going, friendly young man with a casual sort of attitude towards money. ●  casu|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  'No need to hurry,' Ben said casually.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] A casual event or situation happens by chance or without planning. □  What you mean as a casual remark could be misinterpreted. □  Even a casual observer could notice the tense atmosphere.