lower case    Audio Help   /ˈloʊər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[loh-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun Printing.

See under case2 (def. 8).

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[Origin: 1675–85]

case2    Audio Help   /keɪs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[keys] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, cased, cas·ing.

–noun

1.	an often small or portable container for enclosing something, as for carrying or safekeeping; receptacle: a jewel case.

2.	a sheath or outer covering: a knife case.

3.	a box with its contents: a case of ginger ale.

4.	the amount contained in a box or other container: There are a dozen bottles to a case.

5.	a pair or couple; brace: a case of pistols.

6.	a surrounding frame or framework, as of a door.

7.	Bookbinding. a completed book cover ready to be fitted to form the binding of a book.

8.

Printing. a tray of wood, metal, or plastic, divided into compartments for holding types for the use of a compositor and usually arranged in a set of two, the upper (upper case) for capital letters and often auxiliary types, the lower (lower case) for small letters and often auxiliary types, now generally replaced by the California job case. Compare news case.

9.	a cavity in the skull of a sperm whale, containing an oil from which spermaceti is obtained.

10.	Also called case card. Cards. the last card of a suit or denomination that remains after the other cards have been played: a case heart; the case jack.

11.	Faro. casebox.

12.	Southeastern U.S. (chiefly South Carolina). a coin of a particular denomination, as opposed to the same amount in change: a case quarter.

13.	Metallurgy. the hard outer part of a piece of casehardened steel.

–verb (used with object)

14.	to put or enclose in a case; cover with a case.

15.	Slang. to examine or survey (a house, bank, etc.) in planning a crime (sometimes fol. by out): They cased the joint and decided to pull the job on Sunday.

16.	to fuse a layer of glass onto (glass of a contrasting color or of different properties).

17.	to cover (a surface of a wall, well, shaft, etc.) with a facing or lining; revet.

18.	Bookbinding. to bind (a book) in a case.

19.	Cards Slang. a. to arrange (cards or a pack of cards) in a dishonest manner. b. to remember the quantity, suit, or denomination of (the cards played).

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[Origin: 1250–1300; ME cas < AF cas(s)e, OF chasse < L capsa cylindrical case for holding books in scroll form, receptacle]

—Related forms

caser, noun

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