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Castor

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16 dictionary results for: Castor

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cas·tor1

[kas-ter, kah-ster] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	Also, castoreum. a brownish, unctuous substance with a strong, penetrating odor, secreted by certain glands in the groin of the beaver, used in medicine and perfumery.

2.	a hat made of beaver or rabbit fur.

3.	a heavy woolen cloth used mainly for coats.

a beaver.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L < Gk kástōr beaver

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cas·tor2

[kas-ter, kah-ster] Pronunciation Key

–noun

caster (defs. 2–5).

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Cas·tor

[kas-ter, kah-ster] Pronunciation Key

–noun Astronomy.

a star of the second magnitude in the constellation Gemini, the more northerly of the two bright stars in this constellation.

[Origin: named after Castor; see Castor and Pollux

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cast·er (kās'tər) Pronunciation Key
n.

One that casts: a caster of nets.
also cas·tor (kās'tər) A small wheel on a swivel, attached under a piece of furniture or other heavy object to make it easier to move.
also castor
1. A small bottle, pot, or shaker for holding a condiment.
2. A stand for a set of condiment containers.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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cas·tor¹ (kās'tər) Pronunciation Key
n.

An oily, brown, odorous substance obtained from glands in the groin of the beaver and used as a perfume fixative.
A hat made of beaver fur or an imitation.
A heavy wool fabric used especially for overcoats.

[Middle English, from Latin, beaver, from Greek kastōr.]

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cas·tor² (kās'tər) Pronunciation Key
n. Variant of caster.

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Cas·tor (kās'tər) Pronunciation Key
n.

Greek Mythology One of the Dioscuri.
A double star in the constellation Gemini, the brightest star in the group, approximately 46 light-years from Earth.

[Latin, from Greek Kastōr, twin of Pollux.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
castor

"beaver," 1398, from O.Fr. castor, from L. castor "beaver," from Gk. Kastor "he who excels," one of the divine twins (with Pollux), worshipped by women in ancient Greece as a healer and preserver from disease. His name was given to secretions of the animal, used medicinally in ancient times. Through this association his name replaced the native L. word for "beaver," which was fiber. Modern castor oil is first recorded 1746; it is made from seeds of the plant Ricinus communis but supposedly possesses qualities (and taste) similar to those of beaver juice, and thus so named.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

castor
noun
1.	a multiple star with 6 components; second brightest in Gemini; close to Pollux
2.	a shaker with a perforated top for sprinkling powdered sugar [syn: caster]
3.	a pivoting roller attached to the bottom of furniture or trucks or portable machines to make them movable [syn: caster]
4.	a hat made with the fur of a beaver (or similar material) [syn: beaver]
5.	type genus of the Castoridae: beavers

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Castor (kās'tər) Pronunciation Key
A bright multiple star in the constellation Gemini, with a combined apparent magnitude of 0.08. Scientific name: Alpha Geminorum.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Castor, LA (village, FIPS 13260) Location: 32.25414 N, 93.16696 W
Population (1990): 196 (85 housing units)
Area: 3.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 71016

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Castor

Bea"ver\, n. [OE. bever, AS. beofer, befer; akin to D. bever, OHG. bibar, G. biber, Sw. b["a]fver, Dan. b[ae]ver, Lith. bebru, Russ. bobr', Gael. beabhar, Corn. befer, L. fiber, and Skr. babhrus large ichneumon; also as an adj., brown, the animal being probably named from its color. ?253. See Brown.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) An amphibious rodent, of the genus Castor.

Note: It has palmated hind feet, and a broad, flat tail. It is remarkable for its ingenuity in constructing its valued for its fur, and for the material called castor, obtained from two small bags in the groin of the animal. The European species is Castor fiber, and the American is generally considered a variety of this, although sometimes called Castor Canadensis.

2. The fur of the beaver.

3. A hat, formerly made of the fur of the beaver, but now usually of silk.

A brown beaver slouched over his eyes. --Prescott.

4. Beaver cloth, a heavy felted woolen cloth, used chiefly for making overcoats.

Beaver rat (Zo["o]l.), an aquatic ratlike quadruped of Tasmania (Hydromys chrysogaster).

Beaver skin, the furry skin of the beaver.

Bank beaver. See under 1st Bank.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Castor

Cas"tor\, n. [L. castor the beaver, Gr. ?; of uncertain origin.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of rodents, including the beaver. See Beaver.