# costa

/ˈkɔstɑ/ (US) · /kˈɒstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/costa
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. anatomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a technical name for a rib in the body.

For teachers: a rib, or a structure resembling a rib in an animal.

- The doctor examined the patient's costa to check for a fracture.
- The surgeon noted a slight deformity in the third costa, which was likely the result of a childhood injury that had healed poorly.

### 2. botany/insects

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a thick line or 'rib' on a leaf or an insect's wing.

For teachers: a rib-like part of a plant or animal, such as the midrib of a leaf or the thickened leading edge of an insect wing.

- You can see the costa running down the center of this large leaf.
- The entomologist identified the species by examining the specific branching pattern of the costa on the specimen's forewing.

### 3. the Spanish coast

noun · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

the coast of Spain, especially the areas where people go for holidays.

For teachers: the Spanish Mediterranean coastline, particularly the resort areas popular for tourism and retirement.

- They decided to spend their summer holiday on the Costa this year.
- Many British retirees have relocated to the Costa, drawn by the warm climate and the established expatriate communities in the region.

## Examples

- The scientist examined the costa of the leaf under a microscope.
- The primary costa of the specimen was unusually thick, suggesting the plant had adapted to high winds.
- In many species of ferns, the arrangement of the sori along the costa serves as a primary diagnostic feature for field identification.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.