What does "costa" mean?
Synonym of rib.
Costa
/ˈkɒ.stə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Synonym of rib.
- Grammar: costa is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: rib, charges, costal bone, costs.
- Useful contrasts: free, trailing edge.
- Usage evidence: Juan was Costa Rican, whilst Pierre and Jack came from Réunion and South Africa respectively.
How to use "costa"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "costa" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "costa" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "costa" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "costa" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "costa" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "rib" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "costa", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Synonym of rib.
- 2 any of the 12 pairs of curved arches of bone extending from the spine to or toward the sternum in humans (and similar bones in most vertebrates) wordnet
- 3 A riblike part of a plant or animal, such as a midrib of a leaf or a thickened vein or the margin of an insect wing.
- 4 a riblike part of a plant or animal (such as a middle rib of a leaf or a thickened vein of an insect wing) wordnet
- 5 A riblike part of a plant or animal, such as a midrib of a leaf or a thickened vein or the margin of an insect wing.; The vein forming the leading edge of most insect wings.
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from the Romance languages.
"Although Costa retained his contacts with the royal family, Gye was able to develop his own close relationship with the operaphile Prince of Wales, for whose mistress Pauline Lucca he occasionally rescheduled the programme."
- 2 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from Italian.
"Coccinelle, the flamboyant star of a female-impersonation revue at the Carrousel Club in Paris, recounted the saga of her physical transformation to Italiaan journalist Mario Costa."
- 3 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from Galician.
- 4 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from French.
- 5 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from French.; A surname from Occitan.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from Spanish.
- 7 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from Spanish.; A Catalonian surname from Catalan.
- 8 A surname from the Romance languages.; A surname from Portuguese.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
freetrailing edge
Example
"Juan was Costa Rican, whilst Pierre and Jack came from Réunion and South Africa respectively."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "costa"?
Common synonyms include: rib, charges, costal bone, costs, leading edge, leaf vein.
How do you use "costa" in a sentence?
Juan was Costa Rican, whilst Pierre and Jack came from Réunion and South Africa respectively.
How do you pronounce "costa"?
Pronounced /ˈkɒ.stə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Unadapted borrowing from Latin costa (“a rib”). Doublet of coast.
Etymology 2
From pan-Romance (Portuguese Costa, Galician Costa, Spanish Costa, Catalan Costa, Occitan Costa, French Costa, Italian Costa), from Latin costa (“rib; side”).