The process of melting metal and pouring it into a mold is called:

Answer Details

Casting is the sculptural technique in which a material (usually metal) is heated until it melts into liquid form, then poured into a prepared mould. Once the liquid cools and solidifies, the mould is removed to reveal the finished form. This process allows artists to reproduce complex shapes with fine detail and is one of the oldest metalworking methods, used in Nigeria's famous Benin and Ife bronze traditions.

Forging involves shaping metal by hammering or pressing it while it is hot but still solid, not by melting and pouring. Carving is a subtractive process in which material is cut away from a solid block (wood, stone, or ivory). Welding joins separate metal pieces by fusing them together with heat, rather than forming a shape from molten metal poured into a mould.

Exam tip: remember that casting always involves a mould - if the question mentions a mould, casting is the process.