course

course |kɔːs|noun1 the route or direction followed by a ship, aircraft, road, or river: the road adopts a tortuous course along the coast | the new fleet changed course to join the other ships.• the way in which something progresses or develops: the course of history.• (also course of action ) [ count noun ] a procedure adopted to deal with a situation: my decision had seemed to be the wisest course open to me at the time.2 a dish, or a set of dishes served together, forming one of the successive parts of a meal: guests are offered a choice of main course | [ in combination ] : a four-course meal.3 an area of land set aside and prepared for racing, golf, or another sport.4 a series of lectures or lessons in a particular subject, leading to an examination or qualification: a business studies course.• Medicine a series of repeated treatments or doses of medication: the doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics.• Bell-ringing a series of changes which brings the bells back to their original order, or the changes of a particular bell.5 a continuous horizontal layer of brick, stone, or other material in a wall.6 a pursuit of game (especially hares) with greyhounds by sight rather than scent.7 a sail on the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship.8 a set of adjacent strings on a guitar, lute, etc., tuned to the same note.verb1 [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] (of liquid) move without obstruction; flow:tears were coursing down her cheeks | figurative : exultation coursed through him.2 [ with obj. ] pursue (game, especially hares) with greyhounds using sight rather than scent: many of the hares coursed escaped unharmed | [ no obj. ] : she would course for hares with her greyhounds.PHRASEScourse of action see course ( sense 1 of the noun).the course of nature events or processes which are normal and to be expected:each man would, in the course of nature, have his private opinions.in ( the ) course of —— 1 undergoing the specified process: a new text book was in course of preparation. 2 during the specified period or activity: he was a friend to many people in the course of his life.in (or over ) the course of time as time goes by: the property will deteriorate in the course of time.of course used to introduce an idea or action as being obvious or to be expected:the point is of course that the puzzle itself is misleading. • used to give or emphasize agreement or permission: ‘Can I see you for a minute?’ ‘Of course.’. • introducing a qualification or admission: of course we've been in touch by phone, but I wanted to see things for myself.off course not following the intended route.on course following the intended route: he battled to keep the ship on course | figurative: we need to spend money to get the economy back on course. • (on course for/to do something) likely to achieve something: he was on course for victory.run (or take ) its course complete its natural development without interference: his illness had to run its course to the crisis.ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from curs-‘run’, from the verb currere .

n. 名詞

1. 路線; 方向[C]
   Our course was straight to the south. 我們的方向是一直向南。
2. 過程; 進程[U]
   It was one of those ideas that change the course of history. 這便是那些能改變歷史演進的觀點之一。
3. 習慣的程序[C]
4. 方針, 做法[C]
   I think the only sensible course is to retreat. 我認為唯一明智之舉是撤退。
5. (競賽的)跑道; 場地[C]
6. 課程, 科目[C][(+in/on)]
   She took a course in philosophy. 她選讀了一門哲學課程。
7. 系列, 連續[C]
8. 一道菜[C]
   The first course was soup. 頭道菜是湯。
9. 【建】層; 一層磚石[C]

vt. 及物動詞

1. (用獵犬)追獵; 追逐
2. 使(馬等)奔跑

vi. 不及物動詞

1. (液體)流動[Q]
   Tears coursed down her face. 她淚流滿面。
2. (用獵犬)追獵