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• costa
  costa

  noun

  a rib or riblike part.
• Costa
  Costa

  noun

  Lúcio 1902–98, Brazilian architect, chief designer of Brasilia.

costa

¹ American  

[kos-tuh, kaw-stuh] / ˈkɒs tə, ˈkɔ stə /

noun

• costae
  plural

1. a rib or riblike part.

2. the midrib of a leaf in mosses.

3. a ridge.

4. Entomology.

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

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

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Costa ² American  

[kaw-stuh] / ˈkɔ stə /

noun

1. Lúcio 1902–98, Brazilian architect, chief designer of Brasilia.

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costa British  

/ ˈkɒstə /

noun

1. the technical name for rib 1

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

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costa Scientific  

/ kŏs′tə /

• costae
  plural

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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pseudocosta
  noun
• costal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• costae
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of costa

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

costa Costa costae

Billfish Bite Goes Loco Anglers release more than 2,000 sails and marlin in costa rica.

From Time Magazine Archive

In St. Augustine, Fla., saying "It costa me ten bucks but I like mucha better," Shrimper Tomas DiGrande got permission to change the name of his boat from Il Duce to Diana.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thallus 1–2´ long, forked, innovating from the apex, with a somewhat diffuse costa; peduncle very hairy, 1–1½´ long.—Introduced into greenhouses; always sterile, but easily recognized by the characteristic receptacles.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Asa Gray

Its fore wings are ochreous grey, with a narrow brown costal margin, and a triangular brown patch on the costa.

From Butterflies and Moths (British) by William S. Furneaux

Antheridia globose, enclosed in a scale on the under surface of the costa.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Asa Gray

“Even allowing for gains in healthy life expectancy, healthy years with grandchildren fall by about a third,” Costa said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Kristin Connelly, head of the Contra Costa County registrar’s office, said she was also among those who received a letter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

A former vice president of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, has prevailed in five of six nonbinding ballots held since July among U.N.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Burnham, in office since July, and European Council boss Antonio Costa announced separately that the summit will take place in Brussels on November 20.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

She kept close to Ma Costa, and Pantalaimon became as big as he could and took his panther shape to reassure her.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

Intercostal: between veins or costae; usually in the narrow grooves between veins in the costal region of a wing.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith

Coeloplana is of similar form and habit, with two Ctenophoran tentacles: it has no costae, but is uniformly ciliated.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

Shell not carinated, but with radiating costae, which are often bifurcated, aperture often with lateral projections which contract it, aptychus formed of two pieces.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

Its costae are very short, and retrusible; its two tentacles are pinnate and are also retrusible.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

Shells globular, but having radiating and tuberculated costae.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

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