English dictionary

courses Meaning & Definition

ˈkȯrs

What Does Courses Mean?

As a noun, courses means the act or action of moving in a path from point to point. It can also mean the path over which something moves or extends. As a verb, it means to follow close upon.

Courses in Brief

Part of speech	noun, verb
Pronunciation	/ˈkȯrs/
Syllables	1
Synonyms	lines, methodologies and policies
Antonyms	guides, leads and pilots
Plural	only

Courses Definition (Noun)

the act or action of moving in a path from point to point
the planets in their courses
the path over which something moves or extends: such as
racecourse
the direction of travel of a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane) usually measured as a clockwise angle from north
the projected path of travel
a point of the compass
watercourse
golf course
accustomed procedure or normal action
the law taking its course
a chosen manner of conducting oneself : way of acting
Our wisest course is to retreat.
progression through a development or period or a series of acts or events
the course of history
life history, career
an ordered process or succession: such as
a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject
took a course in zoology
a series of such courses constituting a curriculum
a premed course
a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period
a part of a meal served at one time
the main course
layer
a continuous level range of brick or masonry throughout a wall
the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast

Courses as a Verb

to follow close upon : pursue
to hunt or pursue (game) with hounds
to cause (dogs) to run (as after game)
to run or move swiftly through or over : traverse
Jets coursed the area daily.
to run or pass rapidly along or as if along an indicated path
blood coursing through the veins

Synonyms of Courses

lines methodologies policies procedures programs classes operations proceedings processes paths pathways routes routeways steps tracks ways aqueducts canals channels conduits flumes racecourses raceways watercourses waterways bird-dogs chases dogs follows hounds pursues runs shadows tags tails traces trails covers crossescuts (across)goes navigates passes (over)perambulates peregrinates proceeds (along)transits travels traverses barrels belts blasts blazes blows bolts bombs bowls breezes bundles bustles buzzes cannonballs careens careers cracks (on)dashes drives flies hares hastens hies highballs hotfoots (it)humps hurls hurries hurtles hustles jets jumps motors nips pelts races rams rips rockets rushes rustles scoots scurries scuttles shoots speeds tears trots whirls whisks zips zooms line methodology policy procedure program class operation proceeding process path pathway route routeway track way aqueduct canal channel conduit flume racecourse raceway watercourse waterway bird-dog chase dog follow hound pursue run shadow tag tail trace trail cover crosscut (across)go navigate pass (over)perambulate peregrinateproceed (along)transit travel traverse barrel belt blast blaze blow bolt bomb bowl breeze bundle bustle buzz cannonball careen career crack (on)dash drive fly hare hasten hie highball hotfoot (it)hump hurl hurry hurtle hustle jet jump motor nip pelt race ram rip rocket rush rustle scoot scurry scuttle shoot speed step tear trot whirl whisk zip zoom

Courses synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Courses

guides leads pilots heads crawls creeps pokes dallies dawdles dillydallies dragshangs (around or out)lags lingers loiters tarries ambles lumbers plods saunters shuffles strolls deceleratesslows (down or up)guide lead pilot head crawl creep poke dally dawdle dillydally drag hang (around or out)lag linger loiter tarry amble lumber plod saunter shuffle stroll decelerate slow (down or up)

Courses in a Sentence

The normal course of events seems to be just one damned thing after another.

His illness ran its course.

Main course and mainsail are the same thing in a sailing ship.

Blood pumped around the human body courses throughout all its veins and arteries.

to course greyhounds after deer

the planets in their courses

the law taking its course

Our wisest course is to retreat.

the course of history

took a course in zoology

a premed course

the main course

Jets coursed the area daily.

blood coursing through the veins

the president's usual course has been to obtain advice from several people and then make up his own mind

a course on American history from the colonial period to the present

set out on the course that would lead to a college degree

the river follows a southeasterly course to the ocean

the Erie Canal was replaced by a much larger course, the New York State Barge Canal

after coursing the conspirators for months, the federal agents closed in and made the arrests

once the threat of terrorism became apparent, fighter jets began coursing that corridor on a daily basis

racehorses coursing down the track

Word Forms & Grammar

course

courses

coursed

cours·ing

coursing

in due course

courses pl (plural only)

Origin of Courses

Origin 1: 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 current:1

Origin 2: Middle English coursen "to pursue," derivative of cours course:1

First Known Use

14th century

15th centuryt

How Do You Say Courses?

You say courses as /ˈkȯrs/. It has 1 syllable.

Questions People Ask About Courses

Is courses a noun or a verb?

Courses is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.

What is another word for courses?

Close synonyms of courses are lines, methodologies and policies. See the full list of courses synonyms and antonyms.