Definition of course

< Courland

courser >

course    (kôrs, krs) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 1. Onward movement in a particular direction; progress: the course of events.
   2. 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. Sports
   1. A designated area of land or water on which a race is held: the course of a marathon.
   2. 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.
9. 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.
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:
coursed, cours·ing, cours·es
VERB:
tr.

1. To move swiftly through or over; traverse: ships coursing the seas.
2. 1. To hunt (game) with hounds.
   2. To set (hounds) to chase game.

VERB:
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.

IDIOMS:
in due course

At the proper or right time.

of course

1. In the natural or expected order of things; naturally.
2. Without any doubt; certainly.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from past participle of currere, to run; see kers- in Indo-European roots