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• cast iron
  cast iron

  noun

  an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements, cast as a soft and strong, or as a hard and brittle, iron, depending on the mixture and methods of molding.
• cast-iron
  cast-iron

  adjective

  made of cast iron.

cast iron

¹ American  

noun

1. an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements, cast as a soft and strong, or as a hard and brittle, iron, depending on the mixture and methods of molding.

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cast-iron ² American  

[kast-ahy-ern, kahst-] / ˈkæstˈaɪ ərn, ˈkɑst- /

adjective

1. made of cast iron.

2. not subject to change or exception.

   a cast-iron rule.

3. hardy.

   a cast-iron stomach.

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cast iron British  

noun

1. iron containing so much carbon (1.7 to 4.5 per cent) that it cannot be wrought and must be cast into shape

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adjective

1. made of cast iron

2. rigid, strong, or unyielding

   a cast-iron decision

Etymology

Origin of cast iron¹

1655–65; cast (past participle of cast ( def. ) ) + iron

Origin of cast-iron²

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cast iron cast-iron

Laura Cherkas gives Aurora Sanchez a cast iron pan.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

I’ve come to think of cast iron as the fastest way to build depth on a weeknight.

From Salon ● Apr. 21, 2026

The bridge closed to motor vehicles in February for £8.5m of repairs when a crack was found in a cast iron component.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

The snake and cast iron plant can also tolerate darker areas in your home.

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026

Red ferried in more food, and two weeks later, we had piled up a treasure trove of cast iron almost as high as our tent.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

This one embraces two of the South’s most cherished cornbread traditions: a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet and bacon drippings.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

We have an AGA cast-iron range and oven in the kitchen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

It's been no secret that Buckingham Palace has wanted to see him move out of such a grand setting, but it's also recognised that he has a cast-iron lease, independently held.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025

Plaza Park has been home to a water feature since March 1887, when a prominent women’s group raised funds to place a three-tiered cast-iron fountain at the center of the park.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2025

It was endless work to feed our cast-iron stove just for boiling the water, let alone cooking.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver