1. 1. Onward movement in a particular direction; progress: the course of events.
   2. Movement in time; duration: in the course of a year.
2. The direction of continuing movement: took a northern course.
3. The route or path taken by something, such as a stream, that moves. See synonyms at way.
4. Sports.
   1. A designated area of land or water on which a race is held: the course of a marathon.
   2. A golf course.
5. A mode of action or behavior: followed the best course and invested her money.
6. A typical or natural manner of proceeding or developing; customary passage: a fad that ran its course.
7. A systematic or orderly succession; a sequence: a course of medical treatments.
8. A continuous layer of building material, such as brick or tile, on a wall or roof of a building.
9. 1. A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum: a four-year course in engineering.
   2. A unit of such a curriculum: took an introductory course in chemistry; passed her calculus course.
10. A part of a meal served as a unit at one time: The first course was a delicious soup.
11. Nautical. The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship.
12. A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.

1. To move swiftly through or over; traverse: ships coursing the seas.
2. 1. To hunt (game) with hounds.
   2. To set (hounds) to chase game.

1. To proceed or move swiftly along a specified course: "Big tears now coursed down her face" (Iris Murdoch).
2. To hunt game with hounds.

in due course

1. At the proper or right time.

1. In the natural or expected order of things; naturally.
2. Without any doubt; certainly.

[Middle English, from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from past participle of currere, to run.]

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.