1. C 课程，学程　 series of lessons, lectures
2. U 进程，过程　 forward movement in time
3. C 途径，方法　 direction or route following by a ship or an aircraft or by a river
4. C 一道菜　 any of the separate parts of a meal, e. g. soup, dessert

　advance the ～　推进进程
　affect the ～　影响进程
　change ～　改变路线〔航向〕
　complete a ～　修完一门课程
　decide upon a ～　决定路线〔行动方向〕
　drop a ～　放弃一门课程
　follow a ～　采用一条路线
　forecast the future ～　预言今后的进程
　hold to one's ～　抱定宗旨，坚持方针
　illuminate a ～　照耀道路
　offer a ～　开设一门课程
　run its ～　自然发展，按常规进行
　shape one's ～　制定方针，决定做法
　stay the ～　坚持到底
　trace the ～ of　探索…的途径
　alternative ～　可选择的路线
　future ～　今后的进程
　middle ～　中间路线
　natural ～　必由之路
　normal ～　正轨，常规
　prescribed ～　规定的路线，预定方针
　regular ～　常规，常规程序
　usual ～　通常的程序
　whole ～　全过程
　winding ～　曲折的路线
　zigzag ～　之字形的路线，弯曲的路线
　in ～ of　在…过程中
　off ～　离开了规定的航线
　on ～　沿着航线
　within the ～ of a few days　几天以内
　～ of construction　建造过程
　～ of nature　自然规律

　An intermediate English course is more advanced than a beginners's course, but not as difficult as an advanced course.　中级英语课程比初级课程程度高，但没有高级课程那样难。
　They're going to start an advanced course in English at that institute.　那个学院要开一个英语高级班。
　I study an advanced English course.　我学习一种高级英语教程。
　The year-long course was cut to six months. 　1年的课程被缩短为6个月。
　I must consider giving a new course.　我必须考虑开一门新课。
　Let's review the complete course.　让我们把全部课程复习一遍。
　When will you finish your college course?　你什么时候能修完大学学业?
　Wars have influenced the course of history.　战争一直影响着历史的进程。
　The event changed the course of my life.　这个事件改变了我的人生。
　Owing to bad weather the plane had to change its course.　由于天气恶劣，飞机不得不更改航线。
　The ship is off course.　轮船偏离了航道。
　Our course was straight to the north.　我们是朝正北航行。
　Several houses in the village were carried away when the swollen river suddenly changed its course.　涨水的河突然改道时，村里好几间房子被冲走。
　Between extremes it is best to steer a middle course.　在两个极端之间最好采用中庸之道。
　Your best course of action is to forget about the whole unfortunate matter.　你最佳的做法就是忘掉这整个不幸的事件。
　The enemy had two alternative courses: surrender or death.　敌人只有两条路：投降或死亡。
　We had a 3-course dinner. The main course was chicken.　我们吃了一顿有三道菜的饭，主菜是鸡。

 ♣ (as) a matter of course
　理所当然的事，自然地　naturally
　Some people take my help as a matter of course.　有些人把我对他们的帮助视为理所当然的事。
　You needn't ask him to come, he will come as a matter of course.　你不需要请求他来，他自然会来。
 ♣ in course of
　正在…中　under the specified process
　The railway is in course of construction.　铁路正在修筑中。
　The new harbour is in course of construction.　新的海港正在兴建中。
　In course of sinking the well-shaft they came upon a deposit of a very rare mineral.　他们在凿井的过程中，发现了一处稀有矿物矿床。
 ♣ in due course
　到一定的时候，没过多久　on the right time
　I shall answer your letter in due course.　在适当的时候，我会给你回信的。
 ♣ in ordinary course
　在一般情况下，通常　as things usually happen, normally
　In the ordinary course of events, I visit her once a week.　在一般情况下，我每周去看她一次。
 ♣ in the course of
　在…期间，在…过程中　during or before the end of
　Duff called me in the course of our conversation.　在我们谈话时，达夫打电话给我。
　The enemy should be defeated in the course of the year.　应在一年的时间内把敌人打败。
　In the course of our journey I told him everything.　在旅途中我把一切事情都告诉他了。
　In the course of participating in labour man not only changes nature, but also changes his subjective world.　在参加劳动的过程中，人类不仅改变自然，而且改变了自己的主观世界。
 ♣ in the course of time〔the year〕
1. 终于 eventually
　It will be known to everybody in the course of time.　过一段时间人人都会知道的。
　In the course of time I got to know him better, and we became close friends.　经过一段时间我更了解他了，我们成了亲密的朋友。
2. 随着时间〔岁月〕的推移，渐渐 when time has passed
　A man can get used to anything in the course of time.　随着时间的推移，人就会渐渐地习惯这一切。
 ♣ of course
　当然，自然　certainly;naturally
　This, of course, added to our responsibilities.　这自然增加了我们的责任。
　Nothing will interfere with our friendship of course.　当然没有什么能够妨碍我们的友谊。
　"Were you glad to leave?""Of course not!"　“你愿意离开吗?”“当然不愿意！”
 ♣ on course
　按规定的方向，在正确的轨道上　on right way
　Things are going on course.　形势正按预定的方向发展。
 ♣ take〔run〕 its〔their〕 course
　听其自然，按常规进行　develop as is usual
　〔说明〕 take〔run〕 its〔their〕 course中的course只能用单数。
　If I were you, I should let things take their course.　假如我是你，就听其自然。
　We can't cure the disease, it must run its course.　我们治不了这种病，只好听其自然了。
　The decision can't be reversed, the law must take its course.　判决是不能更改的，有法必依。
 ♣ take one's own course
　为所欲为，一意孤行　have one's way
　Duff would not listen to his father's advice, but took his own course.　达夫一意孤行，不愿意听他父亲的建议。

 ♣ in course, on course
　这两个短语的区别是：前者的意思是“按规定、惯常或自然顺序”；后者从航海用语引申为“按规定的方向”“在正确的轨道上”。例如：

 ♣ in course of, in the course of
　这两个短语都可表示“在…中”。其区别是：
1. 前者表示某事正在进行之中；后者则表示在某事的发展过程中。例如：

2. in the course of可表示“在…时期”，而in course of则不可。例如：

 ♣ course, class, lesson
　参见class条。
 ♣ course, route
　这两个词都有“路线”的意思。其区别是：
1. 表示自然力所形成的河道、星星运行的轨道等时，只能用course，不能用route. 例如：
　The stars move in their courses.　星星沿轨道运行。
2. 表示人为设计的路线时， route强调其规律性， course强调其强迫性。route多用于军队或旅游者， course常用于企业等。例如：
　This is the shortest route from Paris to Beijing.　这是从巴黎到北京的最短的航线。
 ♣ of course, certainly, for certain
　这组词（组）都有“确实地，一定地，当然地”的意思。其区别是：certainly可位于句首或句末，表示强调，有时位于动词前，修饰全句，表示确有把握，深信不疑；of course通常用于表示自然的或不可避免的结果；for certain指确有把握，经常用于否定句中。例如：

　在英式英语中，把主讲课程的人称作the people on the course，在美式英语中，称作the people in the course.

　［同义词］ advance, passage, progress, bearing, direction, way
　［词源］　古法语cours<拉丁语cursas （跑，奔流）