course

[ kawrs ]

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 ( wale ).
18. Often courses. Older Use. 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, cours·ing.

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, cours·ing.

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.

course

/ 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 matter of course
    as a natural or normal consequence, mode of action, or event
20. the course of nature
    the ordinary course of events
21. in course of
    in the process of

    the ship was in course of construction

22. in due course
    at some future time, esp the natural or appropriate time
23. of course
    1. adverb as expected; naturally
    2. sentence substitute certainly; definitely
24. run its course or take its course
    (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

Other Words From

• mul·ti·course noun
• un·der·course verb undercoursed undercoursing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of course¹

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”; current ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of course¹

C13: from Old French cours, from Latin cursus a running, from currere to run

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   They will get their comeuppance in due course.

2. of course, matter of course ( def ).
   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.

More idioms and phrases containing course

In addition to the idiom beginning with course , also see crash course ; in due course ; matter of course ; of course ; par for the course ; run its course ; stay the course .

Example Sentences

The goal is, of course, to win every game.

From Los Angeles Times

Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

From Salon

The government's independent advisory body has looked at all the evidence and is satisfied that fortification is the right course of action for society as a whole.

From BBC

As universities cut back there is a risk to the student experience - this year the largest annual study of undergraduates found only 36% in England thought their course was good or very good value for money.

From BBC

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Sir David Behan, the regulator’s chairman, called for radical change, saying course closures and university mergers might be needed for financial stability.

From BBC

Related Words

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