ex|cur|sion

ex|cur|sion «ehk SKUR zhuhn, -shuhn», noun, adjective, verb.

–n.

1. a trip, especially a short trip taken for interest or pleasure, often by a number of people together: »

Our club went on an excursion to the mountains. He [the astronaut] never did get all the way to the command module during the excursion (Science News). Figurative. Preliminary excursions into the systematic study of patterns of science (New Scientist).

SYNONYM(S): expedition, tour, jaunt.

2. a trip on a train, ship, airplane, or the like, at fares lower than are usually charged: »

The Pennsylvania Railroad announced yesterday that it would begin excursions to Philadelphia... that will allow a mother and father and two children to travel round-trip for a family rate of $10 (New York Times).

3. a group of people who go on an excursion.

4. Figurative. a deviation or wandering from the subject; digression.

5. Physics. the departure of a body from its main position or proper course.

6. the range of stroke of any moving part.

7. a sally; sortie; raid.

–adj.

of or having to do with a trip, especially a short trip, taken for pleasure; excursional: »

an excursion train. The Wilson Line had been operating excursion boats in local waters since 1800 (New Yorker).

–v.i.

to make an excursion: »

Within limits, almost any reason will justify a trip off campus. But with six-hour homework loads, much excursioning is unlikely (Newsweek).

╂[< Latin excursiō, -ōnis < excurrere run out < ex- out + currere run]