📒 a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject
- a French/chemistry course
- course in something He took a course in Russian language and literature.
- I want to do a course in art and design.
📒 a period of study at a college or university that leads to an exam or a qualification
- What degree course did you choose?
- a two-year postgraduate course leading to a master’s degree
- He was able to design his own course of study.
📒 a large area of land that is designed for playing golf on
- He set a new course record.
📒 an area of land or water where races are held
- She was overtaken on the last stretch of the course.
- Only ten yachts completed the course.
📒 any of the separate parts of a meal
- a four-course dinner
- The main course was roast duck.
- for… course We had chicken for our main course.
📒 a direction or route followed by a ship or an aircraft
- He radioed the pilot to change course.
- on/off course The plane was off course (= not going in the right direction).
- We're on course for our destination.
📒 the general direction in which somebody’s ideas or actions are moving or in which things are developing
- The president appears likely to change course on some key issues.
- The dollar fell sharply for two days, and then reversed course.
- Her career followed a similar course to her sister's.
📒 a way of acting in or dealing with a particular situation
- There are various courses open to us.
- What course of action would you recommend?
- It was the best course of action to take in the circumstances.
📒 the way something develops or should develop
- course of something This was an event that changed the course of history.
- The unexpected course of events aroused considerable alarm.
- during the course of something She repeatedly raised the issue during the course of the campaign.
📒 the direction a river moves in
- The path follows the course of the river.
📒 a series of medical treatments, tablets, etc.
- to prescribe a course of antibiotics
- She's been put on a course of injections.
- When taking antibiotics it is important to finish the course.
📒 a continuous layer of brick, stone or other building material in a wall
- A new damp-proof course could cost £1 000 or more.
📒 to be in a situation that is almost certain to cause an argument
- I was on a collision course with my boss over the sales figures.
📒 to be moving in a direction in which it is likely that you will crash into somebody/something
- A giant iceberg was on a collision course with the ship.
📒 to be just what you would expect to happen or expect somebody to do in a particular situation
- Starting early and working long hours is par for the course in this job.
📒 the act of matching people with suitable jobs or tasks
📒 going through a particular process
- The new textbook is in course of preparation.
📒 during
- He's seen many changes in the course of his long life.
- The company faces major challenges over the course of the next few years.
📒 when enough time has passed
- It is possible that in the course of time a cure for cancer will be found.
- In the course of time, I began to understand.
📒 at the right time and not before
- Your request will be dealt with in due course.
📒 as things usually happen
- In the normal course of things we would not treat her disappearance as suspicious.
- In the normal course of events, you should get a reply by Monday.
📒 to allow natural processes to happen, without trying to stop or change them (used especially in the context of illness)
- The midwife must judge when to let nature take its course and when to intervene.
- When the dog responded so badly to the treatment, we decided to let nature take its course.
📒 (as) the usual and correct thing to do
- We always check people's addresses as a matter of course.
📒 (to take/find) an acceptable course of action that avoids two extreme positions
📒 used to emphasize that what you are saying is true or correct
- ‘Don't you like my mother?’ ‘Of course I do!’
- ‘Will you be there?’ ‘Course I will.’
📒 used as a polite way of giving somebody permission to do something
- ‘Can I come, too?’ ‘Course you can.’
- ‘Can I have one of those pens?’ ‘Of course—help yourself.’
📒 used as a polite way of agreeing with what somebody has just said
- ‘I did all I could to help.’ ‘Of course,’ he murmured gently.
📒 used to show that what you are saying is not surprising or is generally known or accepted
- Ben, of course, was the last to arrive.
- Of course, there are other ways of doing this.
- ‘Is this the right room for the English class?’ ‘Yes, it is.’
📒 used to emphasize the fact that you are saying ‘no’
- ‘Are you going?’ ‘Of course not.’
- ‘Do you mind?’ ‘No, of course not.’
📒 likely to achieve or do something because you have already started to do it
- The American economy is on course for higher inflation than Britain by the end of the year.
- Victory in Saturday’s match will put them on course to qualify for the European championships.
📒 to tell a lie or to do something in order to prevent the police, etc. from finding out the truth about a crime
📒 to develop in the usual way and come to the usual end
- Sometimes it is better to simply let stress and grief run their course.
- With minor ailments the best thing is often to let nature take its course.
- We could do nothing but let the disease run its course.
📒 to continue doing something until it has finished or been completed, even though it is difficult
- Very few of the trainees have stayed the course.
- He insists that he will not quit but will stay the course.