castor
noun
Also a brownish, unctuous substance with a strong, penetrating odor, secreted by certain glands in the groin of the beaver, used in medicine and perfumery.
castor
1 American
[kas-ter, kah-ster]
/ ˈkæs tər, ˈkɑ stər /
noun
-
castors
plural
-
Also a brownish, unctuous substance with a strong, penetrating odor, secreted by certain glands in the groin of the beaver, used in medicine and perfumery.
-
a hat made of beaver or rabbit fur.
-
a heavy woolen cloth used mainly for coats.
-
a beaver.
Castor
2
American
[kas-ter, kah-ster]
/ ˈkæs tər, ˈkɑ stər /
noun
Astronomy.
Castor
1
British
/ ˈkɑːstə /
noun
-
the second brightest star, Alpha Geminorum, in the constellation Gemini: a multiple star consisting of six components lying close to the star Pollux. Distance: 52 light years
-
classical myth See Castor and Pollux
castor
2
British
/ ˈkɑːstə /
noun
castor
3
British
/ ˈkɑːstə /
noun
-
the brownish aromatic secretion of the anal glands of a beaver, used in perfumery and medicine
-
the fur of the beaver
-
a hat made of beaver or similar fur
-
a less common name for beaver 1
Castor
Scientific
/ kăs′tər /
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of castor1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek kástōr beaver
Origin of Castor2
Named after Castor; see Castor and Pollux
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Around 90% of oil is valuable for industrial uses in crops like castor beans, Bates said.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024
Newer products include a hair strengthening collection with biotin and Jamaican castor oil, and a wig care collection that uses apple cider vinegar to remove build-up from weaves and wigs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2023
The viscous mixture of castor oil and medicine is painful going in and leaves lumps in its wake.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 2023
Back then, beaver fur hats were worn everywhere and beaver castor — the wax from beaver glands — was in high demand.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 13, 2022
One aunt prescribed to her sisters the elixir of large doses of castor oil during the last weeks of pregnancy.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
Castor cited what she described as reckless attacks on other renewable-energy projects—such as wind power—and the independence of the NRC.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
The highest ever Powerball jackpots were both won in California — in Nov. 2022 when Edwin Castor of Altadena purchased a ticket worth $2.04 billion and in Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025
Castor and other officials have spent days urging people in Milton's path to flee their homes or risk death.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2024
"I’ve said many times that if you want to pick a fight with Mother Nature, she’s winning 100 percent of the time," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a press conference Tuesday.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2024
The one with close-bitten nails introduces himself as Castor and the other, who’s his brother, as Pollux.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
As for the metallic pepperpot-shaped aliens, created by designer Raymond Cusick, Ms Webb remembers rehearsals with actors "trolleying" around on castors in just the bottom halves of the characters that would become The Doctor's nemesis.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2023
The cast look like tailor’s dummies in period garb being wheeled around on castors.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 16, 2020
It's odd at first; Stewart seems dazed by the noisiness of the production, to be moving as if on castors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2016
The sculptural giltwood pedestal includes leopard masks above three paw feet that conceal recessed brass castors.
From Architectural Digest ● Jan. 14, 2015
On the grass, under the trees, a great long table was set out with plates, glasses, castors, and things.
From Phemie Frost's Experiences by Ann S. (Ann Sophia) Stephens
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