
verb (used with object), fore·cast or fore·cast·ed, fore·cast·ing.
- to predict (a future condition or occurrence); calculate in advance: to forecast a heavy snowfall; to forecast lower interest rates.
- to serve as a prediction of; foreshadow.
- to contrive or plan beforehand; prearrange.
verb (used without object), fore·cast or fore·cast·ed, fore·cast·ing.
- to conjecture beforehand; make a prediction.
- to plan or arrange beforehand.
noun
- a prediction, especially as to the weather.
- a conjecture as to something in the future.
- the act, practice, or faculty of forecasting.
- Archaic. foresight in planning.
verb -casts, -casting, -cast or -casted
- to predict or calculate (weather, events, etc), in advance
- (tr) to serve as an early indication of
- (tr) to plan in advance
noun
- a statement of probable future weather conditions calculated from meteorological data
- a prophecy or prediction
- the practice or power of forecasting
v.late 14c., “to scheme,” from fore- “before” + casten “contrive.” Meaning “predict events” first attested late 15c. Related: Forecasted; forecasting. n.early 15c., probably from forecast (v.); earliest sense was “forethought, prudence;” meaning “conjectured estimate of a future course” is from 1670s. A Middle English word for weather forecasting was aeromancy.