course course /ˈkɔrs/

adverb

1. () As might be expected  ( course , naturally , of course )
   as might be expected
    Naturally, the lawyer sent us a huge bill
   naturally, the lawyer sent us a huge bill
   

noun

1. () Education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings  ( course of instruction , course of study , class , course )
   education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
    He took a course in basket weaving
   he took a course in basket weaving
    Flirting is not unknown in college classes
   flirting is not unknown in college classes
   
2. () A connected series of events, actions or developments  ( line , course )
   a connected series of events, actions or developments
    The government took a firm course
   the government took a firm course
    Historians can only point out those lines for which evidence is available
   historians can only point out those lines for which evidence is available
   
3. () General line of orientation  ( trend , course )
   general line of orientation
    The river takes a southern course
   the river takes a southern course
    The northeastern trend of the coast
   the northeastern trend of the coast
   
   
4. () A mode of action  ( course of action , course )
   a mode of action
    If you persist in that course you will surely fail
   if you persist in that course you will surely fail
    Once a nation is embarked on a course of action it becomes extremely difficult for any retraction to take place
   once a nation is embarked on a course of action it becomes extremely difficult for any retraction to take place
   
5. () A line or route along which something travels or moves  ( path , course , track )
   a line or route along which something travels or moves
    The hurricane demolished houses in its path
   the hurricane demolished houses in its path
    The track of an animal
   the track of an animal
    The course of the river
   the course of the river
   
   
6. Facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport  ( course )
   facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport
    The course had only nine holes
   the course had only nine holes
    The course was less than a mile
   the course was less than a mile
   
7. (construction) a layer of masonry  ( course , row )
   (construction) a layer of masonry
    A course of bricks
   a course of bricks
   
8. Part of a meal served at one time  ( course )
   part of a meal served at one time
    She prepared a three course meal
   she prepared a three course meal
   
   
9. A body of students who are taught together  ( course , form , class , grade [ N. American] )
   a body of students who are taught together
    Early morning classes are always sleepy
   early morning classes are always sleepy
   
   

verb

1. (game) hunt with hounds  ( course )
   (game) hunt with hounds
    He often courses hares
   He often courses hares
   
2. Move along, of liquids  ( course , feed , run , flow )
   move along, of liquids
    Water flowed into the cave
   Water flowed into the cave
    The Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
   the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
   
3. Move swiftly through or over  ( course )
   move swiftly through or over
    Ships coursing the Atlantic
   ships coursing the Atlantic