course

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French curs, course, from Latin cursus, from currere to run — more at car Date: 14th century 1. the act or action of moving in a path from point to point 2. the path over which something moves or extends: as a. racecourse b. (1) the direction of travel of a vehicle (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 (2) life history, career 4. an ordered process or succession: as a. a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject; 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 II. verb (coursed; coursing) Date: 15th century 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

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