cast-iron

1 of 2

adjective

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

Examples of cast-iron in a Sentence

Noun The fence is made of cast iron.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Heat the oil and butter together in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet (or ovenproof skillet) over medium heat. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Tip: Some cast-iron skillets come with a matching lid, which is useful for making the skillet operate a bit like a mini stovetop oven, cooking evenly and basting the food with flavor and steam. Emily Weinstein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Some cutting-edge appliances like the air fryer may have risen in popularity lately, but the simple sheet pan has become as essential as a cast-iron skillet. Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Heat a large cast-iron or broiler-proof stainless steel skillet over medium high until barely smoking. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Crispy, Smoky Skillet Corn 4 servings The secret to this corn is to get your cast-iron skillet piping hot. Julia Turshen, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The meals cast new light on her grandmother’s post-church smothered pork chops and cast-iron cornbread. Kim Severson, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Although the brand was founded way back in 1925, it’s had something of a renaissance in recent years, with its trademark colorful cast-iron cookware popping up all over TikTok and in countless shoppers’ homes. Rachel Simon, Travel + Leisure, 13 Feb. 2024 Grease a 9- or 10- inch cast-iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Karen Schroeder-Rankin, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2024
Noun
Add this top-selling cast iron skillet to your repertoire to turn sad, pale meals into perfect seared, crispy, and piping hot masterpieces. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 That’s why ceramic cookware is typically considered to be not as long-lasting as stainless steel and cast iron cookware. Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 The home has five bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms, wide plank oak floors, a primary wing with an office and a bonus room, bathrooms with marble tile, a cast iron range, a marble kitchen island and permitted plans for a casita. Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024 For a warm side, heat a cast iron and char some radicchio, which boast a bitter flavor that turns a bit sweet when cooked. Sunset Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 Check out this fantastic cast iron option, beloved by shoppers for its heat retention, durable make, and ergonomic knobs and handles. Rachel Simon, Travel + Leisure, 13 Feb. 2024 The meat can be cooked in a cast iron Dutch oven at a low temperature. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024 Stainless steel, glass, Teflon, cast iron, copper—the list goes on. Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 25 Jan. 2024 Prepare the vegetables: Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cast-iron.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cast-iron was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near cast-iron

Cite this Entry

“Cast-iron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cast-iron. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cast iron

noun
: a hard brittle alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon shaped by being poured into a mold while melted
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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