cast-iron

1 of 2

adjective

ˈkast-ˈī(-ə)rn 

1

: made of cast iron

2

: resembling cast iron: such as

a

: capable of withstanding great strain

a cast-iron stomach

b

: not admitting change, adaptation, or exception : rigid

a cast-iron will

c

British : not likely to fail or be broken : airtight

"Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform … gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?"

—J. K. Rowling

cast iron

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• brassbound
• exacting
• hard-line
• inflexible
• rigid
• rigorous
• strict
• stringent
• uncompromising

Examples of cast-iron in a Sentence

Adjective

lost weight only after a cast-iron adherence to his diet

he has a cast-iron faith in his innate ability to overcome any adversity that life might throw against him

Noun

The fence is made of cast iron.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cast iron: Frequent use of cooking spray can impact the seasoning of cast-iron pans. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024

Lodge’s cast-iron skillet is pre-seasoned to prevent rusting and is durable enough for stovetop, oven, grill, and campfire use. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

According to reviewers, its cast iron design heats up quickly with top and bottom heating plates, baking a pizza in just about ten minutes. —Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024

Related article Archaeologists are now finding microplastics in ancient remains Pick the right cookware Use stainless steel or cast iron instead of non-stick pots and pans, Trasande suggested. —Andrea Kane, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cast iron

noun

: a hard brittle alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon shaped by being poured into a mold while melted