Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense courses, present participle coursing, past tense, past participle coursed
1.
Course is often used in the expression 'of course', or instead of 'of course' in informal spoken English. See of course.
2. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
The course of a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft, is the route along which it is travelling.
The pilot requested clearance to alter course to avoid the storm.
The tug was seaward of the Hakai Passage on a course that diverged from the CalvertIsland coastline.
3. countable noun [usually singular]
A courseof action is an action or a series of actions that you can do in a particular situation.
My best course of action was to help Gill by being loyal, loving and endlessly sympathetic. [+ of]
He must fall on his sword. That's the only course left open to him.
Vietnam is trying to decide on its course for the future. [+ for]
Synonyms: procedure, plan, policy, programme More Synonyms of course
4. singular noun
You can refer to the way that events develop as, for example, the course of history or the course of events.
...a series of decisive naval battles which altered the course of history. [+ of]
In the natural course of events cows would wish to be milked more than twice a day.
His adult life mirrored the downward course of his father's life.
Synonyms: progression, order, unfolding, development More Synonyms of course
5. countable noun
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
...a course in business administration. [+ in]
I'm shortly to begin a course on the modern novel. [+ on]
Synonyms: classes, course of study, programme, schedule More Synonyms of course
6. See also access course, correspondence course, refresher course, sandwich course
7. countable noun
A course of medical treatment is a series of treatments that a doctor gives someone.
Treatment is supplemented with a course of antibiotics to kill the bacterium. [+ of]
She went to her doctor, who offered to put her on a course of tranquillizers.
8. countable noun
A course is one part of a meal.
The lunch was excellent, especially the first course.
...a three-course dinner.
9. countable noun
In sport, a course is an area of land where races are held or golf is played, or the land over which a race takes place.
Only 12 seconds separated the first three riders on the Bickerstaffe course.
In July comes the Tour de France, when 200 cyclists cover a course of 2,000 miles.
Synonyms: racecourse, race, circuit, cinder track More Synonyms of course
10. countable noun
The course of a river is the channel along which it flows.
Romantic chateaux and castles overlook the river's twisting course.
11. verb
If a liquid courses somewhere, it flows quickly.
[literary]
The tears coursed down his cheeks. [VERB preposition/adverb]
When you're sitting still, you need less blood coursing through your arteries. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: run, flow, stream, gush More Synonyms of course
12.
See in the course of
13.
See as a matter of course
14.
See on course/off course
15.
See on course for
16.
See to run its course
17.
See stay the course
18.
See in the course of time
19. in due course
More Synonyms of course
course in British English
(kɔːs)
noun
1.
a continuous progression from one point to the next in time or space; onward movement
the course of his life
2.
a route or direction followed
they kept on a southerly course
3.
a.
the path or channel along which something moves
the course of a river
b.
(in combination)
a watercourse
4.
an area or stretch of land or water on which a sport is played or a race is run
a golf course
5.
a period of time; duration
in the course of the next hour
6.
the usual order of and time required for a sequence of events; regular procedure
the illness ran its course
7.
a mode of conduct or action
if you follow that course, you will certainly fail
8.
a connected series of events, actions, etc
9.
a.
a prescribed number of lessons, lectures, etc, in an educational curriculum
b.
the material covered in such a curriculum
10.
a prescribed regimen to be followed for a specific period of time
a course of treatment
11.
a part of a meal served at one time
the fish course
12.
a continuous, usually horizontal, layer of building material, such as a row of bricks, tiles, etc
13. nautical
any of the sails on the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship
14. knitting
the horizontal rows of stitches
Compare wale1 (sense 2b)
15.
(in medieval Europe) a charge by knights in a tournament
16.
a.
a hunt by hounds relying on sight rather than scent
b.
a match in which two greyhounds compete in chasing a hare
17.
the part or function assigned to an individual bell in a set of changes
18. archaic
a running race
19. as a matter of course
20. the course of nature
21. in course of
22. in due course
23. of course
24. run its course
verb
25. (intransitive)
to run, race, or flow, esp swiftly and without interruption
26.
to cause (hounds) to hunt by sight rather than scent or (of hounds) to hunt (a quarry) thus
27. (transitive)
to run through or over; traverse
28. (intransitive)
to take a direction; proceed on a course
Word origin
C13: from Old French cours, from Latin cursus a running, from currere to run
course in American English
(kɔrs)
noun
1.
an onward movement; going on from one point to the next; progress
2.
the progress or duration of time
in the course of a week
3.
a way, path, or channel of movement
; specif.,
a.
the course to be followed by participants in a race
b.
golf course
4.
the direction taken, esp. that taken or to be taken by a ship or plane, expressedin degrees measured clockwise from north or by points of the compass
5.
a.
a regular manner of procedure
the law must take its course
b.
a way of behaving; mode of conduct
our wisest course
6.
a.
a series of like things in some regular order
b.
a particular succession of events or actions
7.
regular or natural order or development
the course of true love
8.
a part of a meal served at one time
the main course was roast beef
9.
an encounter of knights contesting in a tournament
10.
a horizontal row or layer, as of bricks in a wall or shingles on a roof
11. Education
a.
a complete series of studies leading to graduation or a degree
b.
any of the separate units of instruction in a subject, made up of recitations, lectures, etc.
12. Nautical
a sail on any of the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship
verb transitiveWord forms: coursed or ˈcoursing
13.
to run or chase after; pursue
14.
to cause (esp. hunting hounds) to chase
15.
to run through or over; traverse
verb intransitive
16.
to move swiftly; run or race
Idioms:
in due course
in the course of
of course
on (or off) course
Word origin
ME cours & Fr course, both < OFr cours < L cursus, pp. of currere, to run: see current
More idioms containing
course
stay the course
run its course
on course for something
par for the course
COBUILD Collocations
course
championship course
coaching course
college course
complete a course
cookery course
engineering course
pursue a course
residential course
short course
steer a course
vocational course
Examples of 'course' in a sentence
course
We booked the venue at a nearby golf course.
The Sun (2016)
Of course no one wants to stand in the way of technological innovation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He told followers he took a speed awareness course rather than points on his licence.
The Sun (2016)
The report will be published in due course.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is his right, of course.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But yes, of course we need something now.
The Sun (2016)
There's also a golf course next door.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not very often, of course.
The Sun (2016)
Of course, the doctor survived.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
To which the obvious answer is: 'Of course not.
The Sun (2016)
But how much more difficult when the right course of action for the patient is disputed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Out went golf courses and shops in favour of a firmer focus on industrial and business space.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The next part of the course is often the most challenging.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What happens here can determine the course of the series.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They have been seen throughout the course of history.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We normally eat one course at a minimum of two venues each.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Of course something like that does not improve your frame of mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That could still happen of course as there is a lot to play for.
The Sun (2014)
It is of course essential that doctors should consider themselves on the side of their patients.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We will set out more details in due course.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Things can change quickly in the course of a tennis match and so it proved.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Of course the best way to shut them up is to perform well.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And they want men who batter wives to go on courses instead of facing jail.
The Sun (2006)
What changed the course of my life?
Christianity Today (2000)
Students are selected for courses through interview rather than being judged on academic results.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Let your imagination run its own course.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Our production schedule was thrown off course for the next eight weeks.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
The skirt sizes of three quarters of the women increased over the course of their adult lives.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The resort offers packages with more than two dozen golf courses in the area.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Of course he scored twice but he also showed there is a lot more to his game than goals.
The Sun (2014)
Of course, having somewhere safe to go is essential.
The Sun (2015)
In the course of the day, the sand flats will emerge and disappear.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is a nearly straight 5f course.
The Sun (2011)
Why does she say 'of course' she would help a relative to die with such emotion?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
course
British English: course /kɔːs/ NOUN
The course of a vehicle is the route along which it is travelling.
The pilot changed course and flew north.
American English: course
Arabic: دَوْرَة تَعْلِيميَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: curso
Chinese: 航向
Croatian: smjer
Czech: kurz
Danish: kurs
Dutch: koers
European Spanish: rumbo
Finnish: kurssi
French: cours
German: Kurs
Greek: σειρά μαθημάτων
Italian: rotta
Japanese: コース
Korean: 과정
Norwegian: kurs
Polish: kurs
European Portuguese: curso
Romanian: traseu
Russian: курс
Latin American Spanish: curso
Swedish: kurs
Thai: หลักสูตร
Turkish: kurs
Ukrainian: курс
Vietnamese: lộ trình
All related terms of 'course'
of course
You say of course to suggest that something is normal , obvious , or well-known , and should therefore not surprise the person you are talking to.
belt course
an ornamental projecting band or continuous moulding along a wall
course book
A course book is a textbook that students and teachers use as the basis of a course.
course fees
the fees paid for the tuition on an educational course
course work
Course work is work that students do during a course, rather than in exams, especially work that counts towards a student's final grade .
damp course
A damp course is a layer of waterproof material which is put into the bottom of the outside wall of a building to prevent moisture from rising .
fish course
A fish course is a part of a meal in which fish is served , usually before the entrée.
golf course
A golf course is a large area of grass which is specially designed for people to play golf on.
gut course
a university course that is very easy
main course
the principal dish of a meal
mini-course
a brief intensive course of study
soup course
a part of a meal when soup is served
access course
An access course is an educational course which prepares adults with few or no qualifications for study at a university or other place of higher education.
barge course
the overhang of the gable end of a roof
crash course
A crash course in a particular subject is a short course in which you are taught basic facts or skills , for example before you start a new job .
degree course
an education course that awards degrees to those who complete it successfully
honors course
a degree course at honours level
middle course
an option or alternative between more extreme alternatives
plinth course
the rectangular slab or block that forms the lowest part of the base of a column , statue , pedestal , or pier
short course
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
survey course
an academic course providing an overview of a broad subject area
assault course
An assault course is an area of land covered with obstacles such as walls which people, especially soldiers, use to improve their skills and strength .
coaching course
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
college course
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
compass course
the direction of a ship's course based on its compass
cookery course
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
honours course
a degree course at honours level
in course of
in the process of
lay a course
to sail on a planned course without tacking
lecture course
a series of lectures on a particular subject
magnetic course
an aircraft's course in relation to the magnetic north
obstacle course
In a race, an obstacle course is a series of obstacles that people have to go over or round in order to complete the race.
required course
an obligatory course for all students
sandwich course
A sandwich course is an educational course in which you have periods of study between periods of being at work.
survival course
a course that teaches people how to survive in the wild and in other dangerous environments
training course
a course providing training in a particular field or profession
vacation course
a course of study undertaken during a vacation , usually combined with other activities
wearing course
the top layer of a road that carries the traffic ; road surface
collision course
If two or more people or things are on a collision course , there is likely to be a sudden and violent disagreement between them.
engineering course
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
foundation course
A foundation course is a course that you do at some colleges and universities in order to prepare yourself for a longer or more advanced course.
immersion course
an educational course that teaches a foreign language, and in which the lessons are entirely conducted in the foreign language
induction course
a course intended to give new staff and recruits training in their work
in due course
If you say that something will happen or take place in due course , you mean that you cannot make it happen any quicker and it will happen when the time is right for it.
integrated course
a course that covers several subjects
management course
a course provided by an educational establishment such as a university, which teaches skills concerning the management of a company, business, etc
on course for
If you are on course for something, you are likely to achieve it.
orientation course
a short educational programme that prepares people for a new environment , such as a school or a company
refresher course
A refresher course is a training course in which people improve their knowledge or skills and learn about new developments that are related to the job that they do.
residential course
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
Chinese translation of 'course'
course
(kɔːs)
n
(c) (educational) 课(課)程 (kèchéng) (个(個), gè)
(c)[of injections, antibiotics]疗(療)程 (liáochéng)
(c) (= direction)
[of life, events, time etc]进(進)程 (jìnchéng)
[of ship, aircraft]航向 (hángxiàng)
[of river]流向 (liúxiàng)
(c) (also course of action) 做法 (zuòfǎ) (种(種), zhǒng)