costa

¹

[ kos-tuh, kaw-stuh ]

noun

, plural cos·tae [kos, -tee, kaw, -stee].

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.

Costa

²

[ kaw-stuh ]

noun

1. Lú·cio [loo, -syoo], 1902–98, Brazilian architect, chief designer of Brasilia.

costa

/ ˈkɒstə /

noun

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

costa

/ kŏs′tə /

, Plural costae kŏs′tē

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈcostal, adjective

Other Words From

• pseu·do·cos·ta noun plural pseudocostae

Word History and Origins

Origin of costa¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of costa¹

C19: from Latin: rib, side, wall

Example Sentences

That’s why the doctor, who spoke neither English nor Russian, had spent the last year gesticulating diagnoses for interpreters whose knowledge of Italian was limited to “quanto costa” and “non capisco.”

From New York Times

"Quanto costa?" he says, louder, and points towards a Wrecking Ball shirt.

From The Guardian

What T costae lacks in details of its biology, it makes up for in its contribution to the evolutionary history of its genus.

From The Guardian

Thallus thickened in the middle by a keeled costa, usually conspicuously porose, with dark purple scales beneath; gemmæ none.

From Project Gutenberg

In this position the outer margin of the wing is the costa, the inner the dorsum, and the hind-margin the termen.

From Project Gutenberg