Dictionary.com

costa

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

noun, plural cos·tae [kos-tee, kaw-stee]. /ˈkɒs ti, ˈkɔ sti/.

a rib or riblike part.
the midrib of a leaf in mosses.
a ridge.
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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Origin of costa

1865–70; <Latin: rib, side. See coast

OTHER WORDS FROM costa

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

Words nearby costa

cossack hat, Cossacks, cosset, cossie, cost, costa, Costa Brava, cost-account, cost accounting, Costa del Sol, Costain

Definition for costa (2 of 2)

Costa
[ kaw-stuh ]
/ ˈkɔ stə /

noun

Lú·cio [loo-syoo], /ˈlu syu/, 1902–98, Brazilian architect, chief designer of Brasilia.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for costa

British Dictionary definitions for costa

costa
/ (ˈkɒstə) /

noun plural -tae (-tiː)

the technical name for rib 1 (def. 1)
a riblike part, such as the midrib of a plant leaf

Derived forms of costa

costal, adjective

Word Origin for costa

C19: from Latin: rib, side, wall
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

Medical definitions for costa

costa
[ kŏs′tə ]

n. pl. cos•tae (-tē)

Rib.
A rodlike internal supporting organelle that runs along the base of the undulating membrane of certain flagellate parasites.basal rod

Other words from costa

cos′tal adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for costa

costa
[ kŏs′tə ]

Plural costae (kŏs′tē)

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.