# coast

Pronunciation: say "KOHST" US /koʊst/, UK /kəʊst/

## Noun

1. The strip of land that runs along the edge of an ocean, sea, gulf, bay, or large lake.
   - Simple: The land right next to a sea, ocean, or big lake.
   - _The rocky coast stretched for miles beneath the lighthouse._
   - _Small fishing villages dot the southern coast of the country._

## Verb

2. To glide along without adding energy, letting a vehicle keep moving after the engine or driving force is cut.
   - Simple: To keep moving forward without using power, after you stop pushing or pedaling.
   - _He took his foot off the gas and let the truck coast toward the stop sign._
   - _The cyclists coasted silently down the long slope._
3. To succeed in or get past something with little effort, typically followed by to or through.
   - Simple: To win or pass something with very little hard work.
   - _Talented students sometimes coast through high school and then struggle in their first year of college._
   - _The senator coasted to reelection against a little-known opponent._
4. To make only a minimal effort, continuing in a routine way without initiative or drive.
   - Simple: To do just enough to get by, without really trying.
   - _After the promotion, she coasted for months, doing the bare minimum._
   - _Talented players who coast rarely reach the top._
5. To sail along or close to a shore, keeping near the land rather than crossing open water.
   - Simple: To sail a boat along the edge of the land instead of out on the open sea.
   - _The schooner coasted along the rugged shoreline at dawn._
   - _Merchant vessels would coast from port to port._
6. To slide downhill, especially on a sled over snow or ice. *(dialectal, US)*
   - Simple: To slide down a snowy or icy hill, often on a sled.
   - _Every winter the kids would coast down Miller's hill on wooden sleds._
   - _On snow days the children would coast down the long hill behind the church until dark._

## Noun

7. A stretch of land forming a region, district, or country. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: An area of land, such as a region or a country.
8. Any side or edge of a thing, such as the border of a board or panel. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The outer side or edge of an object.
9. A region of the air or sky; a part of the heavens. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: An area or part of the sky or heavens.

## Verb

10. To draw near, approach, or keep close by the side of something. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To come close to something or stay beside it.
11. To accompany or escort someone along a coast or riverbank, keeping pace beside them. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To go along beside someone on a shore or riverbank, keeping them company.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 7–9** — From Middle English coste ("side, shore, coast, region"), from Old French coste ("rib; side; coast"), from Latin costa ("rib; side, wall"), whose earlier origin is uncertain. It is a doublet of costa.
**Meanings 2–6, 10–11** — Latin costa ("rib; side, wall") gave Old French coste ("rib; side; coast"), from which Anglo-Norman and Old French formed costoier ("to be at the side of"), which became Middle English costeien ("to travel along a border or coast; to skirt").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/coast (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).