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Glite Dictionary
👀 Looking downward 😔 Sad or discouraged 🌬️ A mine air shaft
downcast

downcast

9.9
A shaft that brings fresh air into a mine
  • noun
  • /ˈdaʊnˌkæst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pozo de ventilación
  • The miners descended near the downcast to ensure proper airflow throughout the tunnels.

Examples

  • They installed a new downcast for better ventilation.

  • The downcast allowed fresh air to circulate in the mine.

  • Fresh air is supplied through the downcast during every shift in the coal mine.

  • Regular inspections of the downcast are essential for maintaining a safe environment underground.

  • The miner checked the downcast to ensure enough fresh air was flowing into the tunnels.

  • During the safety meeting, the supervisor explained how to maintain the downcast properly.

  • The crew installed a new downcast to improve ventilation in the mining area.

Synonyms

shaft
vsdowncast
106 5.5

A vertical or sloping passage, for example for an elevator in a building

is specifically the mine inlet for incoming fresh air not any building passage
mineshaft
vsdowncast
6 7.2

A deep narrow passage underground used to reach the mine and let in air

is mainly the mine inlet for fresh air rather than an access tunnel
ventilation shaft
vsdowncast
  • Specialized
5 4.5

A passage in a building that lets fresh air in and stale air out

is the mine inlet that brings fresh air in rather than general ventilation
airway
vsdowncast
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A passage that brings fresh air into mines and tunnels

is specifically the inlet that directs fresh air into a mine

Compounds

downcast expression
1 4.2

A sad look that shows someone feels unhappy

Surface Forms

downcast singular
downcasts plural

Morphology

downcast = cast (opaque) = down + cast

Although analyzable as 'down' + 'cast', the mining sense 'ventilation shaft' is a specialized technical meaning not predictable from the components for average learners. [Postprocessing: moved 'down' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word downcast comes from down ('toward the ground') and cast ('to throw' or 'send'). Think of it as 'throwing air down' into the mine, which is why a downcast is a shaft that brings fresh air into the tunnels.