excursion

[ ik-skur-zhuh n, -shuh n ]

/ ɪkˈskɜr ʒən, -ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR excursion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a short trip or outing to some place, usually for a special purpose and with the intention of a prompt return: a pleasure excursion; a scientific excursion.

a trip on a train, ship, etc., at a reduced rate: weekend excursions to mountain resorts.

the group of persons making such a journey: an excursion of tourists.

a deviation or digression: excursions into futile philosophizing.

Physics. the displacement of a body or a point from a mean position or neutral value, as in an oscillation.

an accidental increase in the power level of a reactor, usually forcing its emergency shutdown.

Machinery.

the range of stroke of any moving part.
the stroke itself.

Obsolete. a sally or raid.

verb (used without object)

to go on or take an excursion.

adjective

of, relating to, or intended for use on excursions: an excursion fare; an excursion bus.

Nearby words

Origin of excursion

First recorded in 1565–75, excursion is from the Latin word excursiōn- (stem of excursiō). See excursus, -ion

Related formsex·cur·sion·al, ex·cur·sion·ar·y, adjectivepre·ex·cur·sion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for excursion

I learned a lot about myself on that excursion, and from the trip as a whole.
Iceland Is Beautiful. And Sooo Weird.|Kevin Fallon|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Love, Nate 12 September 2006 Folks, Just returned from a several day excursion with some of the Recon boys from Lejeune.
Marine First Lieutenant Nathan Krissoff’s Last Letters Home From Iraq|Matt Pottinger|May 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"It would be an excursion into dark reality," he told the Los Angeles Times.
Tom Cruise’s ‘Jack Reacher’ & More Ill-Timed Movies (VIDEO)|Marlow Stern|December 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His tirade against Zionism was relatively brief; his excursion into 9/11 Trutherism, elliptical.
Modern Israel, Medieval A'Jad|David Frum|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST

A basilisk, a sword, and a phoenix mean only one thing for Harry Potter: an excursion into the mysterious chamber.
15 Key Moments From the Harry Potter Movies|Alex Berg|July 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
But the enticement of acquisition and discovery of novelty whilst there were not the governing influences in Balfour's excursion.
Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists|Various
It was not long before they were sitting down to the first real game supper of the excursion.
The Banner Boy Scouts Snowbound|George A. Warren
But even with an excursion to the ancient quarries, for a look at half-finished obelisks, for once I had not enough to do.
It Happened in Egypt|C. N. Williamson
As it happened, however, on the afternoon selected for the excursion, only Julia and Nora really cared to go.
Brenda, Her School and Her Club|Helen Leah Reed
We had been preparing for our summer excursion some time, but were unable to get away from Paris before the 18th of July.
A Residence in France|J. Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for excursion

excursion

/ (ɪkˈskɜːʃən, -ʒən) /

noun

a short outward and return journey, esp for relaxation, sightseeing, etc; outing

a group of people going on such a journey

(modifier) of or relating to special reduced rates offered on certain journeys by railan excursion ticket

a digression or deviation; diversionan excursion into politics

(formerly) a raid or attack

physics

a movement from an equilibrium position, as in an oscillation
the magnitude of this displacement

the normal movement of a movable bodily organ or part from its resting position, such as the lateral movement of the lower jaw

machinery the locus of a point on a moving part, esp the deflection of a whirling shaft

Word Origin for excursion

C16: from Latin excursiō an attack, from excurrere to run out, from currere to run

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for excursion

excursion

1570s, "a deviation in argument," also "a military sally," from Latin excursionem (nominative excursio) "a running forth, sally, excursion, expedition," noun of action from past participle stem of excurrere "run out, run forth, hasten," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + currere "to run" (see current (adj.)). Sense of "journey" recorded in English by 1660s.

excursion

noun

verb (used without object)

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of excursion

Examples from the Web for excursion

excursion

noun

Word Origin for excursion

excursion