coast Hear it!

coast definition

coast (kōst)

noun

  1. land alongside the sea; seashore
  2. Obsolete frontier; borderland
  3. ☆

    Etymology: < CdnFr, hillside, slope

    an incline down which a slide is taken
  4. ☆ a slide or ride, as on a sled going down an incline by the force of gravity

Etymology: ME coste, coast < OFr, a rib, hill, shore, coast < L costa, a rib, side

intransitive verb

  1. to sail near or along a coast, esp. from port to port
  2. ☆ to go down an incline, as on a sled
  3. ☆ to continue in motion on momentum or by the force of gravity after propelling power has stopped
  4. ☆ to continue without serious effort, letting one's past efforts carry one along

transitive verb

to sail along or near the coast of
coast Idioms

the Coast

☆ Informal in the U.S., the Pacific coast

the coast is clear

there is no apparent danger or hindrance

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