excursion — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A brief recreational trip; a journey out of the usual way.

   Examples

   While driving home I took an excursion and saw some deer.

   More examples (1)

   Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres.

2. A field trip.

   Usage

   • Australia

3. A wandering from the main subject: a digression.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Now all his ponderings, however excursive, wheeled round Isabel as their center; and back to her they came again from every excursion; and again derived some new, small germs for wonderment.

4. An occurrence where an aircraft runs off the end or side of a runway or taxiway, usually during takeoff, landing, or taxi.

5. A deviation in pitch, for example in the syllables of enthusiastic speech.

6. Temporary deviation from a regular course or pattern

   Examples

   After an unsuccessful excursion into banking, I've returned to public life.

Verb

1. To go on a recreational trip or excursion.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   1825, Charles Lamb, Letter to Mr. Wordsworth, 6 April, 1825, in The Works of Charles Lamb, Volume I, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851, p. 249, Yesterday I excursioned twenty miles; to-day I write a few letters.

   After breakfast, that next morning in Chamonix, we went out in the yard and watched the gangs of excursioning tourists arriving and departing with their mules and guides and porters […]

   Victoria cows preferred to walk on the plank sidewalks in winter rather than dirty their hooves in the mud by the roadside. They liked to tune their chews to the tap, tap, tap of their feet on the planks. Ladies challenged the right of way by opening and shutting their umbrellas in the cows' faces and shooing, but the cows only chewed harder and stood still. It was the woman-lady, not the lady-cow who had to take to the mud and get scratched by the wild rose bushes that grew between sidewalk and fence while she excursioned round the cow.

Noun

1. a journey taken for pleasure

   Synonyms

   jauntoutingjunketpleasure tripexpeditionsashay

   Broader terms

   journeyjourneying

   Examples

   many summer excursions to the shore

   it was merely a pleasure trip

   More examples (1)

   after cautious sashays into the field

2. wandering from the main path of a journey

   Synonyms

   digression

   Broader terms

   journeyjourneying