I. ikˈskər]zhən, ek-, -kə̄], -kəi], chiefly Brit ]shən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin excursion-, excursio, from excursus (past participle) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : a going out or forth as from a place of confinement: as
a. : a military expedition : raid , sortie — obs. except in the phrase alarums and excursions
b. in Elizabethan stage directions : a movement of soldiers across the stage
c. : a journey chiefly for recreation : a usually brief pleasure trip ; often : a trip (as by rail or steamship) at special reduced rates
the railway ran Sunday excursions to the city
d. : a trip made with the positive intention of returning to the starting point : round trip : a trip that is not planned to involve prolonged or definite separation from one's usually or normal place or way of life
his summer excursions to the Colorado Rockies
made several excursions into the Amazon valley
2. : the persons participating in or going together on an excursion
3. : departure from a direct or proper course : deviation from a definite path ; usually : a wandering from a subject : digression
his excursions into abstruse theory
4. obsolete : a projection or extension (as of a building)
5. archaic : a sally or outburst (as of wit or feeling) especially when overstepping accepted or customary bounds
6. : a movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis
7.
a. : a single vibratory motion (as of a diaphragm or membrane) ; sometimes : the distance traversed in such a movement : amplitude
b. : one complete movement of inspiratory expansion and expiratory contraction of the lungs and their membranes
II. intransitive verb
( excursioned ; excursioned ; excursioning -zh(ə)niŋ, -sh(- ; excursions )
: to go on an excursion
III. adjective
: relating to or used for excursions
an excursion rate
excursion trains
a packed excursion steamer