noun

1. an onward movement; going on from one point to the next; progress
2. the progress or duration of time in the course of a week
3. a way, path, or channel of movement; specif.,
   1. the course to be followed by participants in a race
   2. golf course
4. the direction taken, esp. that taken or to be taken by a ship or plane, expressed in degrees measured clockwise from north or by points of the compass
5. 1. a regular manner of procedure the law must take its course
   2. a way of behaving; mode of conduct our wisest course
6. 1. a series of like things in some regular order
   2. a particular succession of events or actions
7. regular or natural order or development the course of true love
8. a part of a meal served at one time the main course was roast beef
9. an encounter of knights contesting in a tournament
10. a horizontal row or layer, as of bricks in a wall or shingles on a roof
11. Educ.
    1. a complete series of studies leading to graduation or a degree
    2. any of the separate units of instruction in a subject, made up of recitations, lectures, etc.
12. Naut. a sail on any of the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship

Etymology: ME cours & Fr course, both < OFr cours < L cursus, pp. of currere, to run: see current

transitive verb coursed, coursing cours′·ing

1. to run or chase after; pursue
2. to cause (esp. hunting hounds) to chase
3. to run through or over; traverse

intransitive verb