Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • A country of Central America between Panama and Nicaragua. Although Christopher Columbus reached Costa Rica in 1502, Spanish conquest of the native peoples of the area did not begin until 1563. The country achieved independence from Spain in 1821 as part of Mexican territory and declared itself a sovereign republic in 1838. San José is the capital and the largest city.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A country in Central America; Official name: Republic of Costa Rica. Capital San José.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a republic in Central America; one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Spanish rica ("rich"), costa ("coast").

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Examples

  • In Costa Rica, the Spanish word for weed whacker is motoguadaña.

    unknown title 2009

  • In Costa Rica, the Spanish word for weed whacker is motoguadaña.

    unknown title 2009

  • In Costa Rica, the Spanish word for weed whacker is motoguadaña.

    unknown title 2009

  • In Costa Rica, the Spanish word for weed whacker is motoguadaña.

    unknown title 2009

  • That's why Butner (ph) he calls Costa Rica a blue zone.

    CNN Transcript Apr 14, 2007 2007

  • Gold was discovered as recently as Columbus 'last voyage in 1502, and the number of gold ornaments found in the hands of the Indians, as well as the auriferous sands of the rivers gave the newly discovered country the name Costa Rica, "the rich coast".

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

  • Hence, the name Costa Rica, or the Rich Coast, came to adorn this land of dense, unforgiving jungle, though his predecessors found no gold in the area.

    WordPress.com News 2009

  • Ecotourism has become an important sector in nearly every country in Mesoamerica, notably Costa Rica, which is probably the world's best-known example of the successful promotion of economic benefit from conservation.

    Biological diversity in Mesoamerica 2008

  • But Arias couldn't help knocking Taiwan, as the International Business Times explained in an article titled Costa Rica criticizes Taiwan as stingy.

    One FEER, Two Taiwans Michael Turton 2008

  • Besides, a primary reason for my impending move to Costa Rica is to experience anew something decidedly deceased in America:

    The baby blue house with the quite coral columns 2007

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