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

Place an empty 9-inch cast-iron skillet in oven while oven preheats. —Tiffany Vickers Davis, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024

Lucky for cast-iron newbies, most skillets sold these days come pre-seasoned. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2024

Noun

There are a whole host of desserts to be made using a cast iron skillet, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024

An 8-inch cast iron water main at 401 S. Boyle Ave. broke just after 1 a.m., said Renee Vazquez, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. —Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 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