coast

Meaning

Noun

1. The edge of the land where it meets an ocean, sea, gulf, bay, or large lake.
2. (obsolete) The side or edge of something.
3. (obsolete) A region of land; a district or country.
4. (obsolete) A region of the air or heavens.

Verb

1. To glide along without adding energy; to allow a vehicle to continue moving forward after disengaging the engine or ceasing to apply motive power.
2. To sail along a coast.
3. To make a minimal effort; to continue to do something in a routine way, without initiative or effort.
4. (obsolete) To draw near to; to approach; to keep near, or by the side of.
5. (obsolete) To sail by or near; to follow the coastline of.
6. (obsolete) To conduct along a coast or river bank.
7. To slide downhill; to slide on a sled upon snow or ice.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kəʊst/

Etymology

From Middle English coste (“rib; side of the body, flank; side of a building; face of a solid figure; coast, shore; bay, gulf; sea; concavity, hollow; boundary, limit; land; country; district, province, region; locality, place; division of the heavens; compass direction; direction; location with reference to direction, side”) [and other forms], from Old French coste (“rib; side of an object; coast”) (modern French côte (“rib; coast; hill, slope”)), from Latin costa (“rib; side, wall”), from Proto-Indo-European *kost-. Doublet of costa.