1a. Onward movement in a particular direction; progress: the course of events.b. Movement in time; duration: in the course of a year.2. The direction of continuing movement: took a northern course.3. The route or path taken by something, such as a stream, that moves. See synonyms at way. 4.Sportsa. A designated area of land or water on which a race is held: the course of a marathon.b. A golf course. 5. A mode of action or behavior: followed the best course and invested her money.6. A typical or natural manner of proceeding or developing; customary passage: a fad that ran its course.7. A systematic or orderly succession; a sequence: a course of medical treatments.8. A continuous layer of building material, such as brick or tile, on a wall or roof of a building. 9a. A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum: a four-year course in engineering.b. A unit of such a curriculum: took an introductory course in chemistry; passed her calculus course.10. A part of a meal served as a unit at one time: The first course was a delicious soup.11.Nautical The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship. 12. A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.
VERB:
Inflected forms: coursed, cours·ing, cours·es
TRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To move swiftly through or over; traverse: ships coursing the seas.2a. To hunt (game) with hounds. b. To set (hounds) to chase game.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To proceed or move swiftly along a specified course: “Big tears now coursed down her face” (Iris Murdoch). 2. To hunt game with hounds.
IDIOMS:
in due course At the proper or right time. of course1. In the natural or expected order of things; naturally. 2. Without any doubt; certainly.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from past participle of currere, to run. See kers- in Appendix I.
kôrs, k
rs
