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Definition 2024


cast_iron

cast iron

See also: castiron and cast-iron

English

Alternative forms

Noun

cast iron (uncountable)

  1. A hard and brittle, but strong, alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon, formed by casting in a mould.
    Cast iron is popular for cookware where an even heating temperature is important.

Translations

Adjective

A cast-iron frying pan

cast iron (comparative more cast iron, superlative most cast iron)

  1. (not comparable) Made of cast iron.
    I use a cast-iron skillet for frying pancakes.
    • 2008, Steven P. Moysey, The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign of Terror in London, Binghamton, N.Y.: Haworth Press, ISBN 978-0-7890-2912-6, page 58:
      Three small gelignite bombs, with pocket watch timing devices, were concealed in packets small enough to fit through the slot of the standard cast-iron post box, the cylindrical bright red colored boxes so common throughout London.
  2. Durable; tough; resiliant.
    Ernest has a cast-iron constitution and never gets sick.
  3. Inflexible or without exception.
    The school's cast-iron policy on admissions fees left no leeway for needy students.
    • 2016, Rod Liddle, What makes the white working class angry? Twits like Hsiao-Hung Pai (in The Spectator, 19 March 2016)
      As far as her own theories are concerned, she is limitlessly credulous, to a degree which makes me suspect that she is a cast-iron idiot.

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