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.
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
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
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek kástōr beaver
Named after Castor; see Castor and Pollux
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
India mainly exports rice, shrimp, honey, vegetable extracts, castor oil and black pepper, while the US sends almonds, walnuts, pistachios, apples and lentils.
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2025
The modified Arabidopsis overcame metabolic bottlenecks and produced significant amounts of an oil similar to castor oil that it doesn't naturally produce.
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
Other formulas are based on plant oils, including castor bean, cedarwood, clove and peppermint.
From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2023
“Why, Daisy, I couldn’t take any of that nasty stuff. All you think about is castor oil. If I even mash my finger, the first thing you do is grab that old castor oil bottle.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
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
Finally Castor canadensis, long maligned as a pest, is getting a rebrand as an ecological hero.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2025
In a dire message that echoed throughout the state, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Milton would be “literally catastrophic” to the coastal city.
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
“That star,” he says, pointing, “is Castor, that one Pollux. They’re the heads of the Twins.”
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
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
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
The blocks and castors terminating the legs are modern replacements and, like the French set, they are neither glamorous enough to satisfy buyers looking for trophies nor sought after as furniture to live with.
From New York Times ● Jul. 22, 2011
To ensure against any moisture which may ascend from the marble or brick floor of the chamber in which the instrument is lodged, small glass cups are placed as insulators under the castors.
From The Pearl of the Antilles, or An Artist in Cuba by Goodman, Walter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
