coast

I. noun Etymology: Middle English cost, from Anglo-French coste, from Latin costa rib, side; akin to Old Church Slavic kostĭ bone Date: 14th century 1. the land near a shore ; seashore 2. obsolete border, frontier 3. a. a hill or slope suited to coasting b. a slide down a slope (as on a sled) 4. often capitalized the Pacific coast of the United States 5. the immediate area of view — used in the phrase the coast is clear • coastal adjective • coastwise adverb or adjective II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. obsolete to move along or past the side of ; skirt 2. to sail along the shore of intransitive verb 1. a. archaic to travel on land along a coast or along or past the side of something b. to sail along the shore 2. a. to slide, run, or glide downhill by the force of gravity b. to move along without or as if without further application of propulsive power (as by momentum or gravity) c. to proceed easily without special application of effort or concern <

coasted through school

> — often used with on <

a company coasting on its good reputation

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