course

play

noun \ ˈkȯrs \

Definition of course

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

the planets in their courses

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

a :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

c :watercourse

d :golf course

3 a :accustomed procedure or normal action

the law taking its course

b :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

4 :an ordered process or succession: such as

a :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

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

5 a :a part of a meal served at one time

the main course

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

c :the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast

— 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

1 :following the ordinary way or procedure

will be done as a matter of course

2 :as might be expected

Of course we will go.

See course defined for English-language learners

See course defined for kids

Examples of course in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of course from the Web

Rather than having servants deliver one course at a time, the long dining tables were set with piles of food in elaborate chaffing dishes, tureens and trays so that guests were encouraged to graze their way through the bounteous offerings.

— gaile robinson, star-telegram, "Kimbell’s ‘Casanova’ follows the seducer’s trail through Europe – adult-only art and all," 30 Aug. 2017
AMIT also offers at-risk youth numerous courses and programs that teach practical and needed vocational skills, so students are prepared to play important roles in the automotive, mechanical, electrical and other growth industries.

— randall p. lieberman, Jewish Journal, "Boynton Judaica artist to lead workshop for Israeli charity," 30 Aug. 2017
UConn needs to win, of course, and that's probably not too much to ask against Holy Cross, an FCS team that hasn't faced an FBS team in 15 years.

— mike anthony, courant.com, "As New Season Kicks Off, UConn Players Say Edsall Has Them More Than Ready," 30 Aug. 2017
Willow Sage, of course, was spotted singing along in the crowd: Willow sings along with Mommy @Pink‘s #WhatAboutUs at the #VMAs!

— nick vadala, Philly.com, "Pink takes home Video Vanguard Award at VMAs, performs medley of hits," 28 Aug. 2017
Photograph by Evan Sung, courtesy of Nobu A declaration, of course.

— patric kuh, Los Angeles Magazine, "How L.A.’s Most Influential Sushi Chef Redefined Japanese Food," 25 Aug. 2017
This also happened over the course of One Direction’s career after Zayn, with Made in the A.M. boasting distinct songs attributable to one member or another.

— anne t. donahue, Cosmopolitan, "5 Reasons to Worry Fifth Harmony Will Be the Group’s Last Album," 25 Aug. 2017
Get pumped about pumpkins Pumpkin farms like Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch, 17607 N.E. 52nd St. in Liberty, are miniature entertainment complexes come fall, featuring hayrides, kiddie trains, petting zoos and, of course, pumpkins.

— kara lewis,, kansascity, "Countdown to your most fall KC weekend ever," 24 Aug. 2017
Forty participants pushed off from the public boat ramp heading south shortly after 9 a.m. The five-mile course hugged the shoreline and included Swan Harbor Pier.

— The Aegis, "'Ideal' day on water for Harford Land Trust's annual Kayak Poker Run," 24 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'course.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of course

Middle English, from Anglo-French curs, course, from Latin cursus, from currere to run — more at car

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

course Synonyms

Synonyms

line, methodology, policy, procedure, program

Related Words

blueprint, design, plan, scheme, strategy; intent, intention, purpose; approach, direction, method, path, pathway, tack

course

verb

Definition of course

coursed; coursing

transitive verb

1 :to follow close upon :pursue

2 a :to hunt or pursue (game) with hounds

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

3 :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

See course defined for English-language learners

Examples of course in a Sentence

the blood coursing through my veins
Tears were coursing down his cheeks.

Recent Examples of course from the Web

The turbulent motion of superhot plasma causes the magnetic field coursing within to cycle between periods of low and high intensity—resulting in sunspots and solar flares.

— andrew wagner, Science | AAAS, "Take a 360° spin through the heart of the sun," 13 July 2017
And Mobile Bay was a forested valley, with a river coursing through it.

— ben raines, NOLA.com, "Gulf's 60,000-year-old underwater forest spills its secrets in new documentary," 25 June 2017
The thousands of people coursing through Maker Faire at Union Station Saturday could lay their eyes — and often their hands — on all kinds of creative oddities.

— joe robertson, kansascity, "Maker Faire links oddities and art across generations," 24 June 2017
With nearly 600 flights canceled and luggage unable to be delivered, images and horror stories quickly coursed through social media.

— richard weiss, Bloomberg.com, "BA Fiasco Shows Air's Getting Thinner for Legacy Airlines," 30 May 2017
Today the steam coursing under downtown city streets heating 94 buildings is fueled by shale gas from Ohio and Pennsylvania.

— john funk, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Thermal moves from coal to natural gas (photos)," 15 May 2017
The reddish area happens while the blood is coursing and the heart is beating.

— julie k. brown, miamiherald, "Graphic photos stir doubts about Darren Rainey’s prison death," 6 May 2017
Potential changes in trade and taxation are coursing through policy circles in Washington, and those issues along with talk of changes in immigration policies, may upend ties between suppliers and vendors deep in distribution channels.

— paul page, WSJ, "Today’s Top Supply Chain and Logistics News From WSJ," 4 Apr. 2017
The tissues produced hormones that coursed through the miniature reproductive system, their levels rising and falling over 28 days.

— National Geographic, "World’s First 'Menstrual Cycle in a Dish' Simulates Female Body," 28 Mar. 2017

Origin and Etymology of course

see ¹course

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

course Synonyms

Synonyms

bird-dog, chase, follow, dog, hound, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail

Antonyms

guide, lead, pilot

Related Words

accompany, chaperone (or chaperon), escort; hunt, search (for), seek; eye, observe, watch

Near Antonyms

head

COURSE Defined for English Language Learners

course

play

noun

Definition of course for English Language Learners

: the path or direction that something or someone moves along
: a path or route that runners, skiers, bikers, etc., move along especially in a race
: a series of classes about a particular subject in a school

course

verb

Definition of course for English Language Learners

: to move or flow quickly

COURSE Defined for Kids

course

play

noun \ ˈkȯrs \

Definition of course for Students

1 :motion from one point to another :progress in space or time

The earth makes its course around the sun in 365 days.

During the course of a year he meets dozens of people.

2 :the path over which something moves

The ship was blown off course.

3 :a natural channel for water

A trail follows the river's course.

4 :a way of doing something

Choose a course of action.

5 :the ordinary way something happens over time

the course of business

6 :a series of acts or proceedings arranged in regular order

a course of therapies

7 :a series of classes in a subject

a geography course

8 :a part of a meal served separately

We ate a three course dinner.

— of course

:as might be expected

You know, of course, that I like you.

Word Root of course

The Latin word currere, meaning “to run,” and its form cursus give us the roots curr and curs. Words from the Latin currere have something to do with running. A current is the direction in which a river runs or flows. When two people concur, their ideas or opinions run together in agreement. A course is the path over which something moves or runs.