costa

[ kos-tuh, kaw-stuh ]

noun,plural cos·tae [kos-tee, kaw-stee]. /ˈkɒs ti, ˈkɔ sti/.
  1. a rib or riblike part.

  2. the midrib of a leaf in mosses.

  1. a ridge.

  2. Entomology.

    • Also called costal vein . a vein, usually marginal, in the anterior portion of the wing of certain insects.

    • Also called costal margin. the anterior edge or border of the wing of certain insects.

Origin of costa

1
1865–70; <Latin: rib, side. See coast

Other words from costa

  • pseu·do·cos·ta, noun, plural pseu·do·cos·tae.

Words Nearby costa

Other definitions for Costa (2 of 2)

Costa
[ kaw-stuh ]

noun
  1. Lú·cio [loo-syoo], /ˈlu syu/, 1902–98, Brazilian architect, chief designer of Brasilia.

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How to use costa in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for costa

costa

/ (ˈkɒstə) /


nounplural -tae (-tiː)
  1. the technical name for rib 1 (def. 1)

  2. a riblike part, such as the midrib of a plant leaf

Origin of costa

1
C19: from Latin: rib, side, wall

Derived forms of costa

  • costal, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for costa

costa

[ kŏs ]


Plural costae (kŏs)
  1. A rib or a riblike part, such as the midrib of a leaf or a thickened anterior vein or margin of an insect's wing.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.