costa
Costa (noun) means a rib, or a riblike structure such as the thickened leading edge of a leaf or insect wing. Example: “The biologist pointed out the costa running along the front edge of the beetle's wing.”
How to Use Costa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA biological term for a rib-like part, or informally, a named stretch of Spanish coast.
Word Forms
costas plural, costae plural, Costas plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The biologist pointed out the _____ running along the front edge of the beetle's wing.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin costa, meaning "rib" — a doublet of the English word "coast."
Related Words
Rhymes for costa
See all rhymes for costa →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “costa” mean?
The word “costa” means a rib, or a riblike structure such as the thickened leading edge of a leaf or insect wing. In plain terms, a biological term for a rib-like part, or informally, a named stretch of Spanish coast.
How do you pronounce “costa”?
“Costa” is pronounced KO-stuh (/ˈkɑ.stə/ in IPA).
How do you use “costa” in a sentence?
Here is “costa” used in a sentence: “The biologist pointed out the costa running along the front edge of the beetle's wing.”
What part of speech is “costa”?
“Costa” is a noun.
Where does the word “costa” come from?
The word “costa” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Latin costa, meaning "rib" — a doublet of the English word "coast.".
Is “costa” a common word?
“Costa” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “costa” have?
“Costa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a rib, or a riblike structure such as the thickened leading edge of a leaf or insect wing.
What is the difference between costa and coast?
Costa is a Spanish word for coast and is used in English mainly in place names for stretches of Spanish coastline, especially holiday areas. Coast is the ordinary English word for the land beside the sea. So a costa is a coast, but the term usually points specifically to a Spanish seaside region.