I. ˈkōst noun
Etymology: Middle English cost, from Anglo-French coste, from Latin costa rib, side; akin to Old Church Slavic kostĭ bone
Date: 14th century
1. : the land near a shore : seashore
2. obsolete : border , frontier
3.
a. : a hill or slope suited to coasting
b. : a slide down a slope (as on a sled)
4. often capitalized : the Pacific coast of the United States
5. : the immediate area of view — used in the phrase the coast is clear
• coast·al ˈkōs-t ə l adjective
• coast·wise ˈkōst-ˌwīz adverb or adjective
•
- from coast to coast
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to move along or past the side of : skirt
2. : to sail along the shore of
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to travel on land along a coast or along or past the side of something
b. : to sail along the shore
2.
a. : to slide, run, or glide downhill by the force of gravity
b. : to move along without or as if without further application of propulsive power (as by momentum or gravity)
c. : to proceed easily without special application of effort or concern
coast ed through school
— often used with on
a company coast ing on its good reputation