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of course

 - 5 dictionary results

course

[kawrs, kohrs] noun, verb, coursed, cours⋅ing.
–noun
1. a direction or route taken or to be taken.
2. 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.
21. golf course.
22. a race.
–verb (used with object)
23. to run through or over.
24. to chase; pursue.
25. 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.
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


1. way, road, track, passage. 2, 13a. bearing. 6. method, mode. 7. process, career. 15. row, layer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To of course
course   (kôrs, kōrs)   
n.  
    1. Onward movement in a particular direction; progress: the course of events.

    2. Movement in time; duration: in the course of a year.

    3. A designated area of land or water on which a race is held: the course of a marathon.

    4. A golf course.

    5. A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum: a four-year course in engineering.

    6. A unit of such a curriculum: took an introductory course in chemistry; passed her calculus course.

  1. The direction of continuing movement: took a northern course.

  2. The route or path taken by something, such as a stream, that moves. See Synonyms at way.

  3. Sports

    1. A designated area of land or water on which a race is held: the course of a marathon.

    2. A golf course.

    3. A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum: a four-year course in engineering.

    4. A unit of such a curriculum: took an introductory course in chemistry; passed her calculus course.

  4. A mode of action or behavior: followed the best course and invested her money.

  5. A typical or natural manner of proceeding or developing; customary passage: a fad that ran its course.

  6. A systematic or orderly succession; a sequence: a course of medical treatments.

  7. A continuous layer of building material, such as brick or tile, on a wall or roof of a building.

    1. A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum: a four-year course in engineering.

    2. A unit of such a curriculum: took an introductory course in chemistry; passed her calculus course.

  8. A part of a meal served as a unit at one time: The first course was a delicious soup.

  9. Nautical The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship.

  10. A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.

v.   coursed, cours·ing, cours·es

v.   tr.
  1. To move swiftly through or over; traverse: ships coursing the seas.

    1. To hunt (game) with hounds.

    2. To set (hounds) to chase game.

v.   intr.
  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.


[Middle English, from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from past participle of currere, to run; see kers- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

course 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: course
Pronunciation: 'kO(&)rs, 'ko(&)rs
Function: noun
1 : the series of events or stages comprising a natural process course of a disease>
2 : a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period course of three doses daily for five days>
Idioms & Phrases

of course

  1. In the customary or expected order, naturally, as in The new minister did not, of course, fire the church secretary. This usage, first recorded in 1548, employs course in the sense of "ordinary procedure."

  2. Certainly, as in Of course I'll answer the phone, or Are you going to the meeting?Of course. [Early 1800s] Also see matter of course.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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