coast (kōst)
n.

1. 1. Land next to the sea; the seashore.
   2. Coast The Pacific coast of the United States.
2. A hill or other slope down which one may coast, as on a sled.
3. The act of sliding or coasting; slide.
4. Obsolete. The frontier or border of a country.

v., coast·ed, coast·ing, coasts.

v.intr.

1. 1. To slide down an incline through the effect of gravity.
   2. To move effortlessly and smoothly. See synonyms at slide.
2. To move without further use of propelling power.
3. To act or move aimlessly or with little effort: coasted for a few weeks before applying for a job.
4. Nautical. To sail near or along a coast.

v.tr. Nautical
To sail or move along the coast or border of.

[Middle English coste, from Old French, from Latin costa, side.]

coastal coast'al (kō'stəl) adj.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---