course

American  

[kawrs] / kɔrs /

noun

1. a direction or route taken or to be taken.

   Synonyms:

   passage, track, road, way

2. the path, route, or channel along which anything moves.

   the course of a stream.

   Synonyms:

   bearing

3. advance or progression in a particular direction; forward or onward movement.

4. the continuous passage or progress through time or a succession of stages.

   in the course of a year;

   in the course of the battle.

5. the track, ground, water, etc., on which a race is run, sailed, etc..

   One runner fell halfway around the course.

6. a particular manner of proceeding.

   a course of action.

   Synonyms:

   mode, method

7. a customary manner of procedure; regular or natural order of events.

   the course of a disease.

   Synonyms:

   career, process

8. a mode of conduct; behavior.

9. a systematized or prescribed series.

   a course of lectures;

   a course of medical treatments.

10. a program of instruction, as in a college or university.

    a course in economics.

11. a prescribed number of instruction periods or classes in a particular field of study.

12. a part of a meal served at one time.

    The main course was roast chicken with mashed potatoes and peas.

13. Navigation.

    1. 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.

    2. a point of the compass.

14. 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.

15. Building Trades. a continuous and usually horizontal row of bricks, shingles, etc., as in a wall or roof.

    Synonyms:

    layer, row

16. one of the pairs of strings on an instrument of the lute family, tuned in unison or in octaves to increase the volume.

17. the row of stitches going across from side to side in knitting and other needlework (opposed to wale).

18. Older Use. Often courses the periodic flow of blood and mucosal tissue from the uterus; a menstrual period.

19. a charge by knights in a tournament.

20. a pursuit of game with dogs by sight rather than by scent.

21. golf course.

22. a race.

---

verb (used with object)

coursed, coursing

1. to run through or over.

2. to chase; pursue.

3. to hunt (game) with dogs by sight rather than by scent.

4. to cause (dogs) to pursue game by sight rather than by scent.

5. Masonry. to lay (bricks, stones, etc.) in continuous rows.

verb (used without object)

coursed, coursing

1. to follow a direction, route, or path; direct one's path.

2. to run, race, or move swiftly.

   The blood of ancient emperors courses through his veins.

3. to take part in a hunt with hounds, a tilting match, etc.

idioms

1. of course,

   1. certainly; definitely.

      Of course I'll come to the party.

   2. (used to convey that something is expected, unsurprising, or previously known).

      The language of the Romans was, of course, Latin.

2. in due course, in the proper or natural order of events; eventually.

   They will get their comeuppance in due course.

course British  

/ kɔːs /

noun

1. a continuous progression from one point to the next in time or space; onward movement

   the course of his life

2. a route or direction followed

   they kept on a southerly course

3. 1. the path or channel along which something moves

      the course of a river

   2. ( in combination )

      a watercourse

4. an area or stretch of land or water on which a sport is played or a race is run

   a golf course

5. a period of time; duration

   in the course of the next hour

6. the usual order of and time required for a sequence of events; regular procedure

   the illness ran its course

7. a mode of conduct or action

   if you follow that course, you will certainly fail

8. a connected series of events, actions, etc

9. 1. a prescribed number of lessons, lectures, etc, in an educational curriculum

   2. the material covered in such a curriculum

10. a prescribed regimen to be followed for a specific period of time

    a course of treatment

11. a part of a meal served at one time

    the fish course

12. a continuous, usually horizontal, layer of building material, such as a row of bricks, tiles, etc

13. nautical any of the sails on the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship

14. knitting the horizontal rows of stitches Compare wale 1

15. (in medieval Europe) a charge by knights in a tournament

16. 1. a hunt by hounds relying on sight rather than scent

    2. a match in which two greyhounds compete in chasing a hare

17. the part or function assigned to an individual bell in a set of changes

18. archaic a running race

19. as a natural or normal consequence, mode of action, or event

20. the ordinary course of events

21. in the process of

    the ship was in course of construction

22. at some future time, esp the natural or appropriate time

23. 1. (adverb) as expected; naturally

    2. (sentence substitute) certainly; definitely

24. (of something) to complete its development or action

---

verb

1. (intr) to run, race, or flow, esp swiftly and without interruption

2. to cause (hounds) to hunt by sight rather than scent or (of hounds) to hunt (a quarry) thus

3. (tr) to run through or over; traverse

4. (intr) to take a direction; proceed on a course

course More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing course

• crash course
• in due course
• matter of course
• of course
• par for the course
• run its course
• stay the course

---

Other Word Forms

• multicourse
  noun
• undercourse
  verb

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.

Example Sentences

Teachers union head calls for Core ‘course correction’

From Washington Post • Feb. 20, 2014

It's my biggest achievement," she says, "'course it is, but you never know what's round the corner, do you?

From The Guardian • Jul. 9, 2013

So de Lord gin him his haid en 'course he put hit on back'ards.

From Literary Hearthstones of Dixie by Pickett, La Salle Corbell

Now the two copies of Letters I and IV, p. 197which, at the end of his life, as we shall see, Sprot attested by signed endorsements, were in his ‘course hand.’

From James VI and the Gowrie Mystery by Lang, Andrew

Now, Wade, ye know well 'nough that ther farmers cain't go agin sich hard-headedness as that an' win out, 'course ye do.

From The Nightrider's Feud by McConnell, Walter C.

Related Words

• class
• conference
• curriculum
• interest
• lecture
• meeting
• method
• period
• preparation
• procedure
• program
• schedule
• seminar
• session
• subject