course

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯrs

Synonyms of course next

: the act or action of moving in a path from point to point

the planets in their courses

: the path over which something moves or extends: such as

: racecourse

b(1)

: the direction of travel of a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane) usually measured as a clockwise angle from north

also : the projected path of travel

(2)

: a point of the compass

: watercourse

: golf course

: accustomed procedure or normal action

the law taking its course

: a chosen manner of conducting oneself : way of acting

Our wisest course is to retreat.

c(1)

: progression through a development or period or a series of acts or events

the course of history

(2)

: life history, career

: an ordered process or succession: such as

: a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject

took a course in zoology

also : a series of such courses constituting a curriculum

a premed course

: a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period

: a part of a meal served at one time

the main course

: layer

especially : a continuous level range of brick or masonry throughout a wall

: the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast

course

2 of 2

verb

coursed; coursing

transitive verb

: to follow close upon : pursue

: to hunt or pursue (game) with hounds

: to cause (dogs) to run (as after game)

: to run or move swiftly through or over : traverse

Jets coursed the area daily.

intransitive verb

: to run or pass rapidly along or as if along an indicated path

blood coursing through the veins

Phrases

in due course

: after a normal passage of time : in the expected or allotted time

His discoveries led in due course to new forms of treatment.

of course

: following the ordinary way or procedure

will be done as a matter of course

: as might be expected

Of course we will go.

Examples of course in a Sentence

Noun the course of a river The pilot brought the plane back on course. The ship was blown off course by a storm. She's taking a chemistry course this semester. Students earn the degree after a two-year course of study. There is no cure, but the treatment will slow the course of the disease. Verb the blood coursing through my veins Tears were coursing down his cheeks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Here’s the latest on what that means for consumers, federal agencies, corporate America, and — of course — Elon Musk. —

William Gavin, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024 One piece of information or one name that someone provides can really change the course of a case. —

Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

Verb

There’s hope coursing through every chord, so much so that lyrics feel like a bonus accessory here as opposed to a necessity. —

Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024 Already, Phoenix city water is coursing through the futuristic facility’s pipes. —

Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for course

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cours, borrowed from Anglo-French cours, curs, going back to Latin cursus "action of running, charge, movement along a path, progress," from currere "to run, flow" + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at current entry 1

Note: As pointed out by Michiel de Vaan (Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Leiden, 2008), the expected outcome of the verbal adjective in *-to- and the verbal noun in *-tū- would be *kostus < *korstus < *kr̥s-to-, kr̥s-tū-, from the verbal base *kr̥s- (> currere). The attested form cursus for both the past participle and verbal noun reflects remodeling on the pattern of stems ending in a dental (as morsus from mordere "to bite," versus from vertere "to turn"). As generally in Latin, the verbal noun, where full grade of the root would be expected, has been supplanted by zero grade of the verbal adjective.

Verb

Middle English coursen "to pursue," derivative of cours course entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of course was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing course

Cite this Entry

Style

“Course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/course. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

course

1 of 2 noun

ˈkō(ə)rs

ˈkȯ(ə)rs

: the act or action of moving in a path from point to point

the planets in their courses

: the direction or route of motion or progress

the course of a river

a ship's course

: land laid out for golf

: normal or accustomed process or procedure

the disease ran its course

: manner of proceeding : conduct

a wise course

: progression through a period of time or a series of acts or events

was built in the course of a year

: an ordered process or series

: a series of classes in a subject

also : a group of such courses

a four-year course in chemistry

: a part of a meal served at one time

had salad for the first course

: a layer of brick or other building material in a wall

course

2 of 2 verb

coursed; coursing

: to run through or over

buffalo coursed the plains

: to move rapidly : race

blood coursing through the veins

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cours, course "action of moving in a certain path, path of movement, progress," from early French curs, course (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to corridor, current

Medical Definition

course

noun

ˈkō(ə)rs, ˈkȯ(ə)rs

: the series of events or stages comprising a natural process

the course of a disease

: a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period

a course of three doses daily for five days

Last Updated: 18 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

obfuscate

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

course

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of course in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near course

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition