# courses

/ˈkɔɹsəz/ (US) · /kˈɔːsɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/courses
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. academic classes

noun · CEFR A2

the sets of classes or lessons you take at a school or university.

For teachers: plural of 'course' in the sense of a complete series of studies or a specific unit of instruction.

- She is taking three different science courses this semester.
- The university offers several specialized courses in renewable energy for graduate students looking to pivot their careers.

### 2. parts of a meal

noun · CEFR B1

the different parts of a meal served one after the other.

For teachers: plural of 'course' referring to the distinct stages of a meal served in a specific order.

- The wedding dinner had four courses, starting with a cold soup.
- The tasting menu consisted of seven small courses, each paired with a wine specifically chosen to complement the local ingredients.

### 3. paths or routes

noun · CEFR B2

the directions or routes that people, ships, or rivers follow.

For teachers: plural of 'course' denoting the routes or directions followed by a moving object or the natural path of a river.

- The planes took different courses to avoid the storm clouds.
- The engineers studied the natural courses of the local rivers before designing the new irrigation system.

## Examples

- She is taking several online courses to improve her coding skills.
- The wedding dinner consists of five courses, starting with a light soup and ending with a rich chocolate cake.
- While the university offers various vocational courses, many students prefer the theoretical depth of the traditional humanities curriculum.

---

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.