/kohst/ , n.
1. the land next to the sea; seashore: the rocky coast of Maine.
2. the region adjoining it: They live on the coast, a few miles from the sea.
3. a hill or slope down which one may slide on a sled.
4. a slide or ride down a hill or slope, as on a sled.
5. Obs. the boundary or border of a country.
6. the Coast , Informal. (in the U.S. and Canada) the region bordering on the Pacific Ocean; the West Coast: I'm flying out to the Coast next week.
7. the coast is clear , no danger or impediment exists; no persons are in the path or vicinity: The boys waited until the coast was clear before climbing over the wall.
v.i.
8. to slide on a sled down a snowy or icy hillside or incline.
9. to descend a hill or the like, as on a bicycle, without using pedals.
10. to continue to move or advance after effort has ceased; keep going on acquired momentum: We cut off the car engine and coasted for a while.
11. to advance or proceed with little or no effort, esp. owing to one's actual or former assets, as wealth, position, or name, or those of another: The actor coasted to stardom on his father's name.
12. to sail along, or call at the various ports of, a coast.
13. Obs. to proceed in a roundabout way.
v.t.
14. to cause to move along under acquired momentum: to coast a rocket around the sun.
15. to proceed along or near the coast of.
16. Obs. to keep alongside of (a person moving).
17. Obs. to go by the side or border of.
[ 1325-75; (n.) ME cost ( e ) costa rib, side, wall; (v.) ME cost ( e ) yen, costen costeier, OF costoier, deriv. of the n. ]
Syn. 1. strand, seaside, littoral. See shore 1 .