the path, route, or channel along which anything moves: the course of a stream.
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.
7.
a customary manner of procedure; regular or natural order of events: as a matter of course; the course of a disease.
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.
a.
the line along the earth's surface upon or over which a vessel, an aircraft, etc., proceeds: described by its bearing with relation to true or magnetic north.
b.
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 range of bricks, shingles, etc., as in a wall or roof.
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.
Often, courses.the menses.
19.
a charge by knights in a tournament.
20.
a pursuit of game with dogs by sight rather than by scent.
to hunt (game) with dogs by sight rather than by scent.
26.
to cause (dogs) to pursue game by sight rather than by scent.
27.
Masonry. to lay (bricks, stones, etc.) in courses.
–verb (used without object)
28.
to follow a course; direct one's course.
29.
to run, race, or move swiftly: The blood of ancient emperors courses through his veins.
30.
to take part in a hunt with hounds, a tilting match, etc.
—Idioms
31.
in due course, in the proper or natural order of events; eventually: They will get their comeuppance in due course.
32.
of course,
a.
certainly; definitely: Of course I'll come to the party.
b.
in the usual or natural order of things: Extra services are charged for, of course.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME co(u)rs (n.) < AF co(u)rs(e), OF cours < L cursus a running, course, equiv. to cur(rere) to run + -sus, var. of -tus suffix of v. action]
c.1290, from O.Fr. cours, from L. cursus "a running race or course," from curs- pp. stem of currere "to run" (see current). Most extended senses (meals, etc.) are present in 14c. Academic meaning "planned series of study" is 1605 (in French from 14c.). The verb is from 16c.
as might be expected; "naturally, the lawyer sent us a huge bill" [syn: naturally] [ant: unnaturally]
noun
1.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings; "he took a course in basket weaving"; "flirting is not unknown in college classes"
2.
a connected series of events or actions or developments; "the government took a firm course"; "historians can only point out those lines for which evidence is available"
3.
general line of orientation; "the river takes a southern course"; "the northeastern trend of the coast"
4.
a mode of action; "if you persist in that course you will surely fail"; "once a nation is embarked on a course of action it becomes extremely difficult for any retraction to take place"
5.
a line or route along which something travels or moves; "the hurricane demolished houses in its path"; "the track of an animal"; "the course of the river" [syn: path]
6.
a body of students who are taught together; "early morning classes are always sleepy" [syn: class]
7.
part of a meal served at one time; "she prepared a three course meal"
8.
(construction) a layer of masonry; "a course of bricks"
9.
facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport; "the course had only nine holes"; "the course was less than a mile"
verb
1.
move swiftly through or over; "ships coursing the Atlantic"
2.
move along, of liquids; "Water flowed into the cave"; "the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi" [syn: run]
Coarse\, a. [Compar. Coarser; superl. Coarsest.] [As this word was anciently written course, or cours, it may be an abbreviation of of course, in the common manner of proceeding, common, and hence, homely, made for common domestic use, plain, rude, rough, gross, e. g., "Though the threads be course." --Gascoigne. See Course.]1. Large in bulk, or composed of large parts or particles; of inferior quality or appearance; not fine in material or close in texture; gross; thick; rough; -- opposed to fine; as, coarse sand; coarse thread; coarse cloth; coarse bread. 2. Not refined; rough; rude; unpolished; gross; indelicate; as, coarse manners; coarse language. I feel Of what coarse metal ye are molded. --Shak. To copy, in my coarse English, his beautiful expressions. --Dryden. Syn: Large; thick; rough; gross; blunt; uncouth; unpolished; inelegant; indelicate; vulgar.
Cor"ri*dor\ (k?r"r?-d?r or -d?r), n. [F., fr. Itt. corridpore, or Sp. corredor; prop., a runner, hence, a running or long line, a gallery, fr. L. currere to run. See Course.]1. (Arch.) A gallery or passageway leading to several apartments of a house. 2. (Fort.) The covered way lying round the whole compass of the fortifications of a place. [R.]
Cor"sair\ (k?r"s?r), n. [F. corsaire (cf. It. corsare, corsale, Pr. corsari), LL. corsarius, fr. L. cursus a running, course, whence Sp. corso cruise, corsa cruise, coasting voyage, corsear to cruise against the enemy, to pirate, corsario cruising, a privateer authorized to cruise against the enemy. See Course.]1. A pirate; one who cruises about without authorization from any government, to seize booty on sea or land. 2. A piratical vessel. Barbary corsairs . . . infested the coast of the Mediterranean. --Prescott.
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Audio Help [kawrs, kohrs] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, coursed, cours·ing. 
