course
♦♦♦ course /k'ɔːrs/ (courses coursing coursed)
1
Course is often used in the expression `of course', or instead of `of course' in informal spoken English. See of course.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] also a N
The course of a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft, is the route along which it is travelling.
Aircraft can avoid each other by going up and down, as well as by altering course to left or right...
The tug was seaward of the Hakai Passage on a course that diverged from the Calvert Island coastline.
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing
A course of 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...
Vietnam is trying to decide on its course for the future.
4 [N-SING] the N of n
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...
5 [N-COUNT] oft N in/on n
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
...a course in business administration...
I'm shortly to begin a course on the modern novel.
see also access course, correspondence course, sandwich course, sandwich course
6 [N-COUNT] N of n
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...
7 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A course is one part of a meal.
The lunch was excellent, especially the first course.
...a three-course dinner.
8 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
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...
9 [N-COUNT]
The course of a river is the channel along which it flows.
Romantic chateaux and castles overlook the river's twisting course.
10 [PREP-PHRASE]
If something happens in the course of a particular period of time, it happens during that period of time.
In the course of the 1930s steel production in Britain approximately doubled...
We struck up a conversation, in the course of which it emerged that he was a sailing man.
= during
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you do something as a matter of course, you do it as part of your normal work or way of life.
If police are carrying arms as a matter of course then doesn't it encourage criminals to carry them?
12 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If a ship or aircraft is on course, it is travelling along the correct route. If it is off course, it is no longer travelling along the correct route.
The ill fated ship was sent off course into shallow waters and rammed by another vessel.
13 [PREP-PHRASE] usu v-link PREP
If you are on course for something, you are likely to achieve it.
The company is on course for profits of £20m in the next financial year.
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something runs its course or takes its course, it develops naturally and comes to a natural end.
They estimated that between 17,000 and 20,000 cows would die before the epidemic had run its course...
15 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you stay the course, you finish something that you have started, even though it has become very difficult.
The oldest president in American history had stayed the course for two terms.
16 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
If something changes or becomes true in the course of time, it changes or becomes true over a long period of time.
In the course of time, many of their myths become entangled.
17
in due course: see dueac|cess course (access courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT)as|sault course (assault courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT; in AM, use obstacle course)col|li|sion course
1 [N-SING] usu on a N, oft N with n
If two or more people or things are on a collision course, there is likely to be a sudden and violent disagreement between them.
The two communities are now on a collision course...
Britain's universities are set on a collision course with the government.
2 [N-SING] usu on a N, oft N with n
If two or more people or things are on a collision course, they are likely to meet and crash into each other violently.
There is an asteroid on a collision course with the Earth.cor|re|spond|ence course (correspondence courses)
[N-COUNT]
A correspondence course is a course in which you study at home, receiving your work by post and sending it back by post.
I took a correspondence course in computing.course book (course books)
also coursebook
[N-COUNT]
A course book is a textbook that students and teachers use as the basis of a course.course work
also coursework
[N-UNCOUNT]
Course work is work that students do during a course, rather than in exams, especially work that counts towards a student's final grade.
Some 20 per cent of marks are awarded for coursework.crash course (crash courses)
[N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N in n
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.
I did a 15-week crash course in typing.damp course (damp courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT)damp-proof course (damp-proof courses)
[N-COUNT]
A damp-proof course is the same as a damp course.foun|da|tion course (foundation courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT; in AM, use basic course)golf course (golf courses)
also golf-course
[N-COUNT]
A golf course is a large area of grass which is specially designed for people to play golf on.ob|sta|cle course (obstacle courses)
[N-COUNT]
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.♦♦♦ of course
1 [ADV] ADV with cl
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. (SPOKEN)
Of course there were lots of other interesting things at the exhibition...
`I have read about you in the newspapers of course,' Charlie said...
The only honest answer is, of course, yes.
= naturally
2 [CONVENTION]
You use of course as a polite way of giving permission. (SPOKEN)
`Can I just say something about the cup game on Saturday?'--`Yes of course you can.'...
`Could I see these documents?'--`Of course.'
3 [ADV] ADV with cl, ADV as reply
You use of course in order to emphasize a statement that you are making, especially when you are agreeing or disagreeing with someone. (SPOKEN)
`I expect you're right.'--`Of course I'm right.'...
`You will strictly observe your diet: no wine or spirits, very little meat.'--`Of course.'
4 [CONVENTION]
Of course not is an emphatic way of saying no. (SPOKEN)
`You're not really seriously considering this thing, are you?'--`No, of course not.'re|fresh|er course (refresher courses)
[N-COUNT]
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.sand|wich course (sandwich courses)
[N-COUNT]
A sandwich course is an educational course in which you have periods of study between periods of being at work. (BRIT)
1
Course is often used in the expression `of course', or instead of `of course' in informal spoken English. See of course.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] also a N
The course of a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft, is the route along which it is travelling.
Aircraft can avoid each other by going up and down, as well as by altering course to left or right...
The tug was seaward of the Hakai Passage on a course that diverged from the Calvert Island coastline.
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing
A course of 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...
Vietnam is trying to decide on its course for the future.
4 [N-SING] the N of n
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...
5 [N-COUNT] oft N in/on n
A course is a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
...a course in business administration...
I'm shortly to begin a course on the modern novel.
see also access course, correspondence course, sandwich course, sandwich course
6 [N-COUNT] N of n
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...
7 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A course is one part of a meal.
The lunch was excellent, especially the first course.
...a three-course dinner.
8 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
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...
9 [N-COUNT]
The course of a river is the channel along which it flows.
Romantic chateaux and castles overlook the river's twisting course.
10 [PREP-PHRASE]
If something happens in the course of a particular period of time, it happens during that period of time.
In the course of the 1930s steel production in Britain approximately doubled...
We struck up a conversation, in the course of which it emerged that he was a sailing man.
= during
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you do something as a matter of course, you do it as part of your normal work or way of life.
If police are carrying arms as a matter of course then doesn't it encourage criminals to carry them?
12 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If a ship or aircraft is on course, it is travelling along the correct route. If it is off course, it is no longer travelling along the correct route.
The ill fated ship was sent off course into shallow waters and rammed by another vessel.
13 [PREP-PHRASE] usu v-link PREP
If you are on course for something, you are likely to achieve it.
The company is on course for profits of £20m in the next financial year.
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something runs its course or takes its course, it develops naturally and comes to a natural end.
They estimated that between 17,000 and 20,000 cows would die before the epidemic had run its course...
15 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you stay the course, you finish something that you have started, even though it has become very difficult.
The oldest president in American history had stayed the course for two terms.
16 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
If something changes or becomes true in the course of time, it changes or becomes true over a long period of time.
In the course of time, many of their myths become entangled.
17
in due course: see dueac|cess course (access courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT)as|sault course (assault courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT; in AM, use obstacle course)col|li|sion course
1 [N-SING] usu on a N, oft N with n
If two or more people or things are on a collision course, there is likely to be a sudden and violent disagreement between them.
The two communities are now on a collision course...
Britain's universities are set on a collision course with the government.
2 [N-SING] usu on a N, oft N with n
If two or more people or things are on a collision course, they are likely to meet and crash into each other violently.
There is an asteroid on a collision course with the Earth.cor|re|spond|ence course (correspondence courses)
[N-COUNT]
A correspondence course is a course in which you study at home, receiving your work by post and sending it back by post.
I took a correspondence course in computing.course book (course books)
also coursebook
[N-COUNT]
A course book is a textbook that students and teachers use as the basis of a course.course work
also coursework
[N-UNCOUNT]
Course work is work that students do during a course, rather than in exams, especially work that counts towards a student's final grade.
Some 20 per cent of marks are awarded for coursework.crash course (crash courses)
[N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N in n
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.
I did a 15-week crash course in typing.damp course (damp courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT)damp-proof course (damp-proof courses)
[N-COUNT]
A damp-proof course is the same as a damp course.foun|da|tion course (foundation courses)
[N-COUNT]
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. (BRIT; in AM, use basic course)golf course (golf courses)
also golf-course
[N-COUNT]
A golf course is a large area of grass which is specially designed for people to play golf on.ob|sta|cle course (obstacle courses)
[N-COUNT]
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.♦♦♦ of course
1 [ADV] ADV with cl
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. (SPOKEN)
Of course there were lots of other interesting things at the exhibition...
`I have read about you in the newspapers of course,' Charlie said...
The only honest answer is, of course, yes.
= naturally
2 [CONVENTION]
You use of course as a polite way of giving permission. (SPOKEN)
`Can I just say something about the cup game on Saturday?'--`Yes of course you can.'...
`Could I see these documents?'--`Of course.'
3 [ADV] ADV with cl, ADV as reply
You use of course in order to emphasize a statement that you are making, especially when you are agreeing or disagreeing with someone. (SPOKEN)
`I expect you're right.'--`Of course I'm right.'...
`You will strictly observe your diet: no wine or spirits, very little meat.'--`Of course.'
4 [CONVENTION]
Of course not is an emphatic way of saying no. (SPOKEN)
`You're not really seriously considering this thing, are you?'--`No, of course not.'re|fresh|er course (refresher courses)
[N-COUNT]
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.sand|wich course (sandwich courses)
[N-COUNT]
A sandwich course is an educational course in which you have periods of study between periods of being at work. (BRIT)