course

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯrs 

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

course

2 of 2

verb

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

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

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.

Synonyms

Noun

• line
• methodology
• policy
• procedure
• program

Verb

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

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

Noun

Resorts included hotel rooms of various sizes, as well as on-site dining and other activities like an arcade, bowling, and a ropes course. —Michelle Spitzer, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025

There's also, of course, the expansive private beach (available to guests only), which has daybeds, umbrellas, and towels—plus, it's staffed with attendants. —Nicole Brewer, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2025

Verb

The tunnel is usually off-limits when it is filled and coursing with a massive stream of Colorado River water. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025

But what’s true for everyone is that managing the business challenges of AI is not about choosing between caution and innovation or trying to course correct after the fact. —Lisa Caldwell, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing course

• as a matter of course
• assault course
• collision course
• correspondence course
• course load
• course of action
• course of events
• course of study
• crash course
• golf course
• gut course
• holder in due course
• in the course of time
• in the usual/normal/ordinary course of business
• let nature take its course
• matter of course
• normal/ordinary course of events
• obstacle course
• of course not
• on a collision course
• par for the course
• pervert the course of justice
• refresher course
• run its course
• run one's course
• sandwich course
• stay the course
• survey course
• the course of history
• veer off course

Rhymes for course

• bourse
• coarse
• force
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

Kids Definition

course

1 of 2 noun

ˈkō(ə)rs 

ˈkȯ(ə)rs

1

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

the planets in their courses

2

: the direction or route of motion or progress

the course of a river

a ship's course

3

: land laid out for golf

4

a

: normal or accustomed process or procedure

the disease ran its course

b

: manner of proceeding : conduct

a wise course

c

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

was built in the course of a year

5

a

: an ordered process or series

b

: a series of classes in a subject

also : a group of such courses

a four-year course in chemistry

6

: a part of a meal served at one time

had salad for the first course

7

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

course

2 of 2 verb

coursed; coursing

1

: to run through or over

buffalo coursed the plains

2

: 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 

1

: the series of events or stages comprising a natural process

the course of a disease

2

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

a course of three doses daily for five days