noun Uncommon

castor

KAHS-tuh

Quiz me More like this

Castor (noun) means a small swivelling wheel fitted to the leg of a piece of furniture so it can be rolled. Example: “One of the castors on the office chair had come loose.”

noun

A small swivelling wheel fitted to the leg of a piece of furniture so it can be rolled.

"One of the castors on the office chair had come loose."

A small container with a perforated top used for sprinkling sugar, salt, or pepper.

"She reached for the sugar castor to sweeten her tea."

How to use castor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small wheel under furniture, or a small shaker for sugar or salt — usually just a spelling variant of "caster."

Common mistake

Often used interchangeably with "caster" — both spellings are accepted for the furniture wheel and the sugar shaker.

Easily confused with

caster →

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like castor.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: castors

Test yourself on “castor” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

One of the _____ on the office chair had come loose.

Etymology

From French castor, "beaver," ultimately from Ancient Greek kástōr — the word originally referred to a hat made of beaver fur, and later shifted to describe rolling wheels and sprinkling containers.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Synonyms

View more →

beaver caster

Related words

roller vagina beaver Fanny caster stovepipe castoreum vulva

Rhymes for castor

Astor pastor

See all rhymes for castor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “castor” mean?

The word “castor” means a small swivelling wheel fitted to the leg of a piece of furniture so it can be rolled. In plain terms, a small wheel under furniture, or a small shaker for sugar or salt — usually just a spelling variant of "caster.".

How do you pronounce “castor”?

“Castor” is pronounced KAHS-tuh (/ˈkæs.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “castor” in a sentence?

Here is “castor” used in a sentence: “One of the castors on the office chair had come loose.”

What part of speech is “castor”?

“Castor” is a noun.

Where does the word “castor” come from?

The word “castor” comes from Ancient Greek. From French castor, "beaver," ultimately from Ancient Greek kástōr — the word originally referred to a hat made of beaver fur, and later shifted to describe rolling wheels and sprinkling containers.

Is “castor” a common word?

“Castor” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “castor” have?

“Castor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small swivelling wheel fitted to the leg of a piece of furniture so it can be rolled.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include castor:

Words with Greek origins

People also searched

roller vagina beaver Fanny caster stovepipe castoreum vulva