coast

 
Pronunciation: /kəʊst/

noun

  • 1the part of the land adjoining or near the sea: the west coast of Africa they sailed further up the coast
  • (the Coast) North American the Pacific coast of North America.
  • 2the easy movement of a vehicle without the use of power: once the coast to the moon had begun, Apollo was separated from the third stage

verb

  • 1 [no object] (of a person or vehicle) move easily without using power: they were coasting down a long hill
  • be successful without making much effort: Colchester coasted to victory
  • 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] sail along the coast, especially in order to carry cargo: (as adjective coasting) a coasting schooner

Phrases

the coast is clear

there is no danger of being observed or caught: the streetcleaners kept stopping off for a smoke when the coast was clear

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'side of the body'), from Old French coste (noun), costeier (verb), from Latin costa 'rib, flank, side'. coast (sense 1 of the noun) arose from the phrase coast of the sea 'side of the sea'