cast vs figure

cast

verb
  • To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan. 

  • To heave the lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water. 

  • To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round. 

  • Of dogs, hunters: to spread out and search for a scent. 

  • To throw forward (a fishing line, net etc.) into the sea. 

  • To throw off (the skin) as a process of growth; to shed the hair or fur of the coat. 

  • To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make preponderate; to decide. 

  • To throw. 

  • To throw down or aside. 

  • To deposit (a ballot or voting paper); to formally register (one's vote). 

  • To calculate the astrological value of (a horoscope, birth etc.). 

  • To throw (light etc.) on or upon something, or in a given direction. 

  • To open a circle in order to begin a spell or meeting of witches. 

  • To broadcast (video) over the Internet or a local network, especially to one's television. 

  • To remove, take off (clothes). 

  • To direct (one's eyes, gaze etc.). 

  • To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way. 

  • To perform, bring forth (a magical spell or enchantment). 

  • To twist or warp (of fabric, timber etc.). 

  • To set (a bone etc.) in a cast. 

  • To assign (a role in a play or performance). 

  • To assign a role in a play or performance to (an actor). 

  • To change a variable type from, for example, integer to real, or integer to text. 

noun
  • Visual appearance. 

  • An object made in a mould. 

  • A supportive and immobilising device used to help mend broken bones. 

  • A squint. 

  • Animal and insect remains which have been regurgitated by a bird. 

  • The form of one's thoughts, mind etc. 

  • The collective group of actors performing a play or production together. Contrasted with crew. 

  • A small mass of earth "thrown off" or excreted by a worm. 

  • The number of hawks (or occasionally other birds) cast off at one time; a pair. 

  • Something which has been thrown, dispersed etc. 

  • The casting procedure. 

  • The mould used to make cast objects. 

  • A group of crabs. 

  • An instance of throwing out a fishing line. 

  • An act of throwing. 

adj
  • Of an animal, such as a horse or sheep: Lying in a position from which it cannot rise on its own. 

figure

verb
  • To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon. 

  • To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. 

  • To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. 

  • To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem. 

  • To enter into; to be a part of. 

  • To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. 

  • To embellish. 

  • To come to understand. 

  • To be reasonable. 

noun
  • A visible pattern as in wood or cloth. 

  • A number, an amount. 

  • A drawing or diagram conveying information. 

  • A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body. 

  • A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment. 

  • The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. 

  • A figure of speech. 

  • The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person. 

  • A person or thing representing a certain consciousness. 

  • A numeral. 

  • A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. 

  • Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. 

  • The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body. 

  • A shape. 

  • Any complex dance moveᵂ. 

How often have the words cast and figure occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )