noun
Common
costa
KO-stuh
Costa (noun) means a rib, or a riblike structure such as the thickened leading edge of a leaf or insect wing. Example: “The costa of the leaf was thick and clearly visible.”
noun
1
A rib, or a riblike structure such as the thickened leading edge of a leaf or insect wing.
"The costa of the leaf was thick and clearly visible."
"Under the microscope, the costa of the fly's wing looked like a ridged rib."
"The biologist pointed out the costa running along the front edge of the beetle's wing."
2
A stretch of Spanish coastline, especially as a holiday destination.
"We booked a cheap flight to the Costa Brava for a week in the sun."
"Many British families head to the costas each summer for sunshine and beaches."
"They spent two weeks on the Costa del Sol every summer."
How to use costa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA biological term for a rib-like part, or informally, a named stretch of Spanish coast.
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Word forms
- Plural
- costas, costae
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the leaf was thick and clearly visible.
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.
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