costa

[kos-tuh, kaw-stuh] /ˈkɒs tə, ˈkɔ stə/
noun, plural costae
[kos-tee, kaw-stee] /ˈkɒs ti, ˈkɔ sti/ (Show IPA)
1.
a rib or riblike part.
2.
the midrib of a leaf in mosses.
3.
a ridge.
4.
Entomology.
  1. Also called costal vein. a vein, usually marginal, in the anterior portion of the wing of certain insects.
  2. Also called costal margin. the anterior edge or border of the wing of certain insects.
Origin
1865-70; < Latin: rib, side. See coast
Related forms
pseudocosta, noun, plural pseudocostae.

Costa

[kaw-stuh] /ˈkɔ stə/
noun
1.
Lúcio [loo-syoo] /ˈlu syu/ (Show IPA), 1902–98, Brazilian architect, chief designer of Brasilia.
Examples from the web for costa
  • The costa is unbroken and the subcosta is apparent on the insect.
  • For example, the costa book awards are awarded to authors resident in the uk or ireland.
  • Fire protection is provided by the costa mesa fire department.
  • Law enforcement is the responsibility of the costa mesa police department.
British Dictionary definitions for costa

costa

/ˈkɒstə/
noun (pl) -tae (-tiː)
1.
the technical name for rib1 (sense 1)
2.
a riblike part, such as the midrib of a plant leaf
Derived Forms
costal, adjective
Word Origin
C19: from Latin: rib, side, wall
Word Origin and History for costa
n.

Spanish costa "coast," from same Latin source as English coast (n.). Used in Britain from 1960s in jocular formations (costa geriatrica, costa del crime, etc.) in imitation of the names of Spanish tourist destinations.

costa in Medicine

costa cos·ta (kŏs'tə)
n. pl. cos·tae (-tē)

  1. Rib.

  2. A rodlike internal supporting organelle that runs along the base of the undulating membrane of certain flagellate parasites. Also called basal rod.

cos'tal adj.
costa in Science
costa
  (kŏs'tə)   
Plural costae (kŏs'tē)
A rib or a riblike part, such as the midrib of a leaf or a thickened anterior vein or margin of an insect's wing.