From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcoursecourse1 /kɔːs $ kɔːrs/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 → of course2 → of course not3 LESSONSeducation [countable]SEC a) a series of lessons in a particular subject SYN class American English Andy’s doing a one-year journalism course.course on/in a course on architecture I’m taking a course in graphic design. b) British English a period of study in a particular subject, especially at university SYN program American English a degree course in photography ► Course is never followed by ‘of’. Don’t say ‘a course of Business Studies’. Say ‘a course in Business Studies’.4 time [singular]PERIOD OF TIME a period of time or process during which something happensduring/in/throughout/over the course of something During the course of our conversation, it emerged that Bob had been in prison. Over the course of the next few years, the steel industry was reorganized.in the course of doing something In the course of researching customer needs, we discovered how few families have adequate life insurance.5 development [singular]NATURAL the usual or natural way that something changes, develops, or is donecourse of forces that shape the course of evolution Meeting Sally changed the whole course of his life.in the normal/natural/ordinary course of events In the normal course of events, a son would inherit from his father.take/run its course (=develop in the usual way and reach a natural end) Relax and let nature take its course. It seems the boom in World Music has run its course. Gorbachev changed the course of Soviet history.6 plans [singular, uncountable] the general plans someone has to achieve something or the general way something is happening They will go to any lengths to get the White House to change course. He will steer a middle course between pacifism and revolution. As long as the economy stays on course, the future looks rosy.7 ACTIONSactions [countable usually singular]DEAL WITH an action or series of actions that you could take in order to deal with a particular situation I agreed that this was the only sensible course of action.take/decide on a course The judge took the only course of action open to him. 8 direction [countable usually singular, uncountable]TTWTTA the planned direction taken by a boat or plane to reach a place The plane changed course to avoid the storm.on/off course (=going in the right or wrong direction) The ship was blown off course. The aircraft was almost ten miles off course. She tightened the mainsail while holding the course (=travelling in the same direction as planned).9 → on course10 meal [countable]DF one of the separate parts of a mealthree-course/five-course etc meal The ticket includes entry and a four-course meal.first/second/main etc course We had fish for the main course.11 sport [countable]DS an area of land or water where races are held, or an area of land designed for playing golf a particularly difficult course an 18-hole course → assault course, obstacle course(1)12 medical treatment [countable] especially British EnglishSERIES an amount of medicine or medical treatment that you have regularly for a specific period of timecourse of injections/drugs/treatment etc a course of antibiotics13 → in (the) course of time14 river [countable]SG the direction a river moves in The course of the water was shown by a line of trees.15 wall [countable]TBC a layer of bricks, stone etc in a wall a damp-proof course → as a matter of course at matter1(20), → par for the course at par(3), → stay the course at stay1(7), → in due course at due1(4)COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: verbstake a course (also do a course British English)I decided to do a course in Italian.go on a course British EnglishMy company wanted me to go on a course in management skills.pass/fail a courseIf you pass the course, you get a diploma in psychology.apply for a courseThe following year she applied for a nursing course.enrol on a course/put your name down for a course British English (=to arrange to officially join a course)How about enrolling on a sailing course?attend a course formal (=take part in a course)You’ll have to attend a course on how to deal with customers on the phone.withdraw from a course/drop out of a course (=leave it without finishing it)She had to withdraw from the course because of illness.teach a courseShe is teaching an introductory course in Russian.run a courseThe course is run by the British Council.offer a courseThe course is offered on a part-time basis.change (your) course (=at university or college)Some students choose to change their course after the first year.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + course a language/art/design etc courseThe school runs ten-week language courses three times a year.a full-time/part-time courseThere are also part-time courses for mature students.an elementary/intermediate/advanced coursean advanced course in art and designa one-year/two-year etc courseShe did a one-year teacher training course.a short courseI did a short course on website design.an intensive course (=in which you learn a lot in a short time)An intensive course in Russian is provided for those who do not already know the language.a crash course informal (=in which you learn a great deal in a very short time)A husband was given a crash course in how to deliver a baby by a midwife on the phone.a training courseIf you are offered the job, you will attend a two-week training course.a vocational course (=that trains you to do a particular job)a vocational course in architecturea college/university coursestudents who fail their college coursesa degree course British English (also an undergraduate course) (=a first course at a university, which usually lasts three years)a three-year degree coursea postgraduate course British English (=one you do after your first degree course)a correspondence course (=in which you work at home, sending work to a teacher by post)an introductory course (=for people who have never done a particular subject or activity before)an induction course (=that you do when you start a new job or position)a refresher course (=short and intended to teach you about new developments in a subject)a foundation course British English (=a general course that students do in the first year at some universities)a sandwich course British English (=that includes periods of work in industry or business)a tailor-made course (=one that is specially designed for someone)a tailor-made course to help senior staff develop their negotiation skillscourse + NOUNa course tutor British English:I discussed it with my course tutor.course materialTeachers are provided with course material.the course syllabus (=the plan of what is taught on a course)The school has recently introduced a new course syllabus.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘make a course’. Say do or take a course. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 5: the usual or natural way that something changes, develops, or is doneverbssomething takes a course (=develops in a particular way)He felt that events were taking the wrong course.something takes/runs its course (=develops in the usual or natural way)There was nothing we could do except watch the illness run its course.change/alter the course of somethingThe incident changed the course of the election.influence/shape the course of somethingThe result of this battle influenced the whole course of the war.determine/decide the course of somethingDon’t let chance decide the course of your career.phrasesin the normal/ordinary course of somethingHis bravery was far more than was required in the normal course of duty.the course of history/somebody’s life etcChanging conditions shape the course of evolution.
Examples from the Corpus
course• a five-course banquet• I've decided to do a course in aromatherapy.• a course in music journalism• Advanced courses afford the opportunity to study classical religious and anti-religious texts of influential philosophers from Plato to Sartre.• No clear, specific regulations for these adult education classes and courses existed before 1924.• The plane had to change course to avoid the storm.• The college is offering three basic computer courses this year.• The waiter brought the first course, a simple leek and potato soup.• The council met last week to decide on a future course for peace.• For the main course we had roast turkey with vegetables.• Which is, of course, nonsense.• Investigators say the plane was over 800 miles off course when it crashed.• They are not linked to a particular course or to a particular method of study.• The captain decided to change the ship's course to avoid the storm.• All hunters applying for licenses are required to take a hunting safety course.• a cross-country ski course• It was more about learning from-and networking with-your fellow students than a straight forward taught course.• After the course, I began taking more interest in how other departments were tackling quality assurance.• Are you enjoying the course?• Scientists are monitoring the course of the measles epidemic throughout the state.• The course of the water was marked by a line of willow trees.• And there are few opportunities for students to develop such ability before they enroll in those courses.• It will be some years yet before the full uptake picture becomes available because the traditional courses are still being phased out.• She began a 12 week course on modern art.course on/in• For Rufus this was a crash course in race relations and show business.• Create a first-year elective course on social justice, including public interest law and race.• There was only one course in which Professor Sano, my depart-ment head, thought I might have trouble.• Photo: Henley Standard George Piggott 1978, aged 76, who remembers the course in 1915.• You will also share in presenting the full range of Data-Star training courses on a regular basis.• Cecil's colt's success at the highest level came on this very course in last season's Racing Post Trophy.• What courses in high school or college were the best?in the course of doing something• Both sides would broadcast interviews with senior personalities, in the course of which they gave interpretations of current developments.• He arrived at my home and in the course of the evening he buttonholed me.• Here are the six references Flaubert makes to Emma Bovary's eyes in the course of the book.• I have made some qualifications to this effect in the course of the argument.• Some of the earliest arguments that legislative intentions count were made to judges in the course of lawsuits.• That being so, the court held that the sale was a sale in the course of a business.• The central nervous system appears to be the pre-eminent instrument that has been designed for this function in the course of evolution.changed the course of• The coup against Gorbachev changed the course of the Soviet future.• In that instant he had changed the course of science and paved the way for the exploitation of Niagara Falls power.• Instead, I'd found something unlooked for that had changed the course of my entire life.• We could have changed the course of the war.• The influence of the three High Elf Mages changed the course of the war.• That small man changed the course of my life.• It was then that the newly-created Republican Party staged a convention that changed the course of the nation.steer a middle course• He steered a middle course between intimacy and aloofness which would have endeared him to the most demanding of guests.• Managers must steer a middle course between political correctness and political babble.• It has chosen to steer a middle course between them rather than undertake a strategic review.• He and Chris tried to steer a middle course during the ritual of drinks before dinner and the meal that followed.• I usually steer a middle course which avoids both waste and effort.take/decide on a course• It took the Millau Ten less than an hour to digest the court's ruling and decide on a course of action.• For older children, there are more complex issues to think over before deciding on a course of action.• He decided not to mention it to Josh until he and Helen could decide on a course of action.• I decided on a course of what the strategists over at the Pentagon call Massive Retaliation.• Ferranti then hopes to decide on a course of action and in particular on how to restructure its capital base.• Emergency meetings were called in Washington to decide on a course of action.on/off course• The survey showed that only one-third of those who had been on courses generated the training themselves.• Examinations on courses at end of first year.• With each one, Apple strengthened its contention that the mission of Macintosh was finally on course.• By the end of 1978 nine were in production and several more on course for development.• That meant a substantial breakfast, followed by a word with Posi to confirm that everything was on course and on line.• He said the Government was on course for elections to the new councils in 1995.first/second/main etc course• The dish can be served as a first course or as a light dinner entree with brown rice.• Typically, 2 birds are required per person for a main course and 1 bird per person for a salad course.• One reporter might work on an appetizer, another on a main course, and a third on a dessert.• At table, for the first course, the three of them worked on her as if consciously.• It was eaten with a spoon and served on festal days as part of the main course.• The second course would have been unusual and encouraging - and leadership in the village community would probably have fallen to him.• The cooks must make a soup, two main courses, at least one of them vegetarian, and two desserts.• Suddenly you are faced with desserts, unaccustomed first courses, and main courses swimming in cream and butter.course of injections/drugs/treatment etc• What is the best course of treatment?• It is important to conduct a complete course of treatment at the required dosage with these products.• One full course of treatment costs as little as 5 pence, and can save a life.• They are, so to speak, medications or courses of treatment.• Muhammad Ali attributed some of his victories in the boxing ring to a prior course of treatment with B15.• These seven strategies constitute the course of treatment.• In some of the cases new problems, not identified at the outset, emerged during the course of treatment.• Leukopenia tends to cluster early in the course of treatment, whereas aplastic anemia occurs fairly evenly throughout the first year.coursecourse2 verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] literaryLIQUID if a liquid or electricity courses somewhere, it flows there quickly Tears coursed down his cheeks.2 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] literaryTHINK SO/NOT BE SURE if a feeling courses through you, you feel it suddenly and strongly His smile sent waves of excitement coursing through her.3 [intransitive, transitive]DS to chase rabbits with dogs as a sport→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
course• He stood quite still, shoulders shaking, tears coursing along the freckles.• Franca became aware that tears were coursing down her face.• Water coursed down Simon's body as he stood, shaking with cold, on the beam.• Pulses of energy coursed down the beam.• The storm system coursed through Georgia and Alabama.From Longman Business Dictionarycoursecourse /kɔːskɔːrs/ noun [countable] especially British English a series of classes or studies in a particular subjecta one-year journalism course → correspondence course → refresher course → sandwich course 