n. 1 the act or an instance of departing. 2 (often foll. by from) a deviation (from the truth, a standard, etc.). 3 (often attrib.) the starting of a train, an aircraft, etc. (the departure was late; departure lounge). 4 a new course of action or thought (driving a car is rather a departure for him). 5 Naut. the amount of a ship's change of longitude.
[ OF departere (as DEPART) ]