- cas´u|al|ness
- cas|u|al «KAZH u uhl», adjective, noun.–adj.1. happening by chance; not planned or expected; accidental: »
Our long friendship began with a casual meeting at a party.
2. without plan or method; careless: »a casual answer. I didn't read the newspaper but gave it only a casual glance. She kissed him perfunctorily on the forehead and he gave her hand a casual caress (Graham Greene).
3. uncertain; indefinite; indifferent; vague: »Not for a casual period but for a complete lifetime (George Grote).
4. a) informal in manner; offhand: »casual manners. Some people took his casual behavior for rudeness. American sportswear designers know how to design for up-to-date, casual living (New York Times).
b) designed for informal wear: »We dressed in casual clothes for the picnic.
c) not to be depended on or considered seriously; unmethodical; haphazard: »He does his work in much too casual a manner.
5. a) occasional or irregular: »He employs casual labor on his farm and then only at harvest time.
b) British. of or denoting persons receiving occasional work or public aid from a place in which they do not permanently reside: »the casual poor.
6. of or resulting from accidents: »a casual patient. I pointed out that the causes of illnesses are multiple and that a useful diagnosis should take casual factors into account (Sunday Times).
–n.1. a) a casual laborer: »The Waterfront Commission has done much to eliminate waterfront casuals who in the past have absorbed much of the waterfront income (New York Times).
b) British. a person occasionally receiving public aid.2. a soldier awaiting orders, transportation, or the like, at a post or in a unit to which he is not attached or assigned.3. a casual dress, shoe, or other piece of informal clothing.4. Biology. a plant or animal found outside its native habitat.–cas´u|al|ly, adverb.–cas´u|al|ness, noun.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
