course
Americannoun
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a direction or route taken or to be taken.
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the path, route, or channel along which anything moves.
the course of a stream.
- Synonyms:
- bearing
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advance or progression in a particular direction; forward or onward movement.
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the continuous passage or progress through time or a succession of stages.
in the course of a year;
in the course of the battle.
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the track, ground, water, etc., on which a race is run, sailed, etc..
One runner fell halfway around the course.
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a particular manner of proceeding.
a course of action.
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a customary manner of procedure; regular or natural order of events.
the course of a disease.
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a mode of conduct; behavior.
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a systematized or prescribed series.
a course of lectures;
a course of medical treatments.
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a program of instruction, as in a college or university.
a course in economics.
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a prescribed number of instruction periods or classes in a particular field of study.
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a part of a meal served at one time.
The main course was roast chicken with mashed potatoes and peas.
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Navigation.
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the line along the earth's surface upon or over which a ship, an aircraft, etc., proceeds: described by its bearing with relation to true or magnetic north.
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a point of the compass.
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Nautical. the lowermost sail on a fully square-rigged mast: designated by a special name, as foresail or mainsail, or by the designation of the mast itself, as fore course or main course.
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Building Trades. a continuous and usually horizontal row of bricks, shingles, etc., as in a wall or roof.
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one of the pairs of strings on an instrument of the lute family, tuned in unison or in octaves to increase the volume.
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the row of stitches going across from side to side in knitting and other needlework (opposed to wale).
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Older Use. Often courses the periodic flow of blood and mucosal tissue from the uterus; a menstrual period.
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a charge by knights in a tournament.
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a pursuit of game with dogs by sight rather than by scent.
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a race.
verb (used with object)
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to run through or over.
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to chase; pursue.
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to hunt (game) with dogs by sight rather than by scent.
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to cause (dogs) to pursue game by sight rather than by scent.
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Masonry. to lay (bricks, stones, etc.) in continuous rows.
verb (used without object)
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to follow a direction, route, or path; direct one's path.
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to run, race, or move swiftly.
The blood of ancient emperors courses through his veins.
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to take part in a hunt with hounds, a tilting match, etc.
idioms
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of course,
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certainly; definitely.
Of course I'll come to the party.
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(used to convey that something is expected, unsurprising, or previously known).
The language of the Romans was, of course, Latin.
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in due course, in the proper or natural order of events; eventually.
They will get their comeuppance in due course.
noun
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a continuous progression from one point to the next in time or space; onward movement
the course of his life
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a route or direction followed
they kept on a southerly course
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the path or channel along which something moves
the course of a river
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( in combination )
a watercourse
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an area or stretch of land or water on which a sport is played or a race is run
a golf course
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a period of time; duration
in the course of the next hour
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the usual order of and time required for a sequence of events; regular procedure
the illness ran its course
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a mode of conduct or action
if you follow that course, you will certainly fail
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a connected series of events, actions, etc
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a prescribed number of lessons, lectures, etc, in an educational curriculum
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the material covered in such a curriculum
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a prescribed regimen to be followed for a specific period of time
a course of treatment
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a part of a meal served at one time
the fish course
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a continuous, usually horizontal, layer of building material, such as a row of bricks, tiles, etc
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nautical any of the sails on the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship
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knitting the horizontal rows of stitches Compare wale 1
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(in medieval Europe) a charge by knights in a tournament
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a hunt by hounds relying on sight rather than scent
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a match in which two greyhounds compete in chasing a hare
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the part or function assigned to an individual bell in a set of changes
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archaic a running race
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as a natural or normal consequence, mode of action, or event
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the ordinary course of events
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in the process of
the ship was in course of construction
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at some future time, esp the natural or appropriate time
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(adverb) as expected; naturally
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(sentence substitute) certainly; definitely
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(of something) to complete its development or action
verb
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(intr) to run, race, or flow, esp swiftly and without interruption
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to cause (hounds) to hunt by sight rather than scent or (of hounds) to hunt (a quarry) thus
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(tr) to run through or over; traverse
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(intr) to take a direction; proceed on a course
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of course
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English co(u)rs (noun), from Anglo-French co(u)rs(e), Old French cours, from Latin cursus “race, path, orbit,” noun use of past participle of currere “to run”; cf. current ( def. )
Explanation
The noun course can refer to a series of lectures, discussions, or other lessons in a particular subject. To graduate from high school, you have to take certain courses in English, social studies, math, and science. Naturally, you want to pass them! The noun course can refer to a part of a meal. If you love chocolate, your favorite course will be dessert — it's a triple chocolate mousse! The noun course can also refer to an area laid out for a particular sport, as in a golf course or obstacle course. As a verb course can mean to move quickly over or through a certain path, especially some liquid, like when tears course down your cheeks at a sad movie. Don't confuse the spelling of course with coarse, which is an adjective meaning rough.
Vocabulary lists containing course
Make a Run for It: Cur, Curs
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Unit 7, Week 1
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Week 3 Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The deal, which has not yet closed, represented an abrupt change of course for TMTG.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
The tickets are cheaper than Dodger Stadium, of course, and the food is better.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Last fall, even a gradual decline in bank reserves sparked such acute anxiety in the bond market that the Fed quickly reversed course and began growing reserves again.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Of course, it’s still possible that Trump’s arch, Reflecting Pool paint job, and other proposed architectural changes won’t materialize, at least in full.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
Of course she wasn’t doing anything—she’d been in bed the whole day.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
