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Meaning & use

as cast

adjective, adverb·Advancedtechnicalspecialist

Last updated

UK/ˌæz ˈkɑːst/
US/ˌæz ˈkæst/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nountechnicalspecialist

    Describing a metal part in the condition it is in right after being poured into a mold, with no later shaping or finishing.

    Grammar: Used mainly before a noun, as in 'as-cast surface'; it can also follow a linking verb: 'The part is as cast.'

    Patterns

    • as-cast condition
    • as-cast surface
    • as-cast part
    • as-cast state

    The as-cast surface was rough, so the workers ground it smooth.

    Engineers measured the strength of the as-cast alloy before any heat treatment.

    The as-cast state is cheaper, but the final part must be machined to exact size.

  2. adverbtechnicalspecialist

    In the state a metal object is in immediately after casting, before any further processing.

    Grammar: Usually written after the verb or at the end of a clause: 'The parts were shipped as cast.'

    Patterns

    • shipped as cast
    • used as cast
    • delivered as cast

    The factory shipped the gears as cast, leaving the finishing to the buyer.

    These brackets can be used as cast because the tolerances are not tight.

    The blocks were delivered as cast and then sent to the machine shop.

Common combinations

as-cast condition
The as-cast condition gives the metal a dull, uneven look.
as-cast surface
Paint does not stick well to an as-cast surface.
as-cast structure
The as-cast structure contains large grains that weaken the metal.
leave something as cast
The foundry left the parts as cast to save time.

Synonyms and how they differ

unmachined
Focuses on the fact that no cutting has been done, while 'as cast' also says the part came from a mold.
raw
A general word for something not yet processed; 'as cast' is the precise technical term for metal straight from a mold.

Opposites

machinedfinished

Word family

cast verb
To pour melted metal into a mold so it takes a shape.
casting noun
An object made by pouring metal into a mold, or the process of making it.
foundry noun
A factory where metal is melted and cast.

Commonly confused: as cast or cast?

as cast vs cast

'Cast' is the verb or the object; 'as cast' is the adjectival phrase describing the object's unfinished condition.

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