excrescence 474
ex·cres·cence /ɪk'skresəns/ *n* *fml* an ugly growth on an animal or plant; (*fig.*) *In my opinion, the new museum extension is an excrescence.*
**ex·cre·ta** /ɪk'skri:tə/ *n* [P] *fml* or *tech* excrement or URINE (=liquid waste matter)
**ex·crete** /ɪk'skri:t/ *v* [I,T] *fml* or *tech* (of animals and humans) to pass out (waste matter, especially FAECES) from the body; *The skunk excretes a very powerful smell when it is frightened.* → compare SECRETE¹
**ex·cre·tion** /ɪk'skri:ʃən/ *n* [C;U] *fml* or *tech* (the act of producing) excreta
**ex·cru·ci·at·ing** /ɪk'skru:ʃieɪtɪŋ/ *adj* (of pain) extremely bad; *I've got an excruciating headache.* | (*fig.*) *an excruciating performance* →-**ly** *adv*
**ex·cul·pate** /'ekskʌlpet/ *v* [T(from)] *fml* to free (someone) from blame; prove that (someone) has not done something wrong; EXONERATE →**pation** /ˌekskʌl'peiʃən/ *n* [U]
**ex·cur·sion** /ɪk'skɜ:ʃən||ɪk'skɜ:rʒən/ *n* a short journey made for pleasure, usually by several people together; *We went on a day excursion* (=there and back in a day) *to Blackpool.* | *The travel company arranges excursions round the island.*
**ex·cu·sa·ble** /ɪk'skju:zəbəl/ *adj* (of behaviour) that can be forgiven → opposite INEXCUSABLE →-**bly** *adv*
**ex·cuse**¹ /ɪk'skju:z/ *v* [T] **1** [(for)] to forgive (someone) for (a small fault) (used especially as a polite way of saying one is sorry); *Please excuse my bad handwriting.* | *Please excuse me for opening your letter by mistake.* | *She excused his interruption.* **2** [usually in questions and negatives] to make (bad behaviour) seem less bad, or harmless; JUSTIFY; *I don't think this excuses the government's neglect.* | [+v-ing] *Nothing can excuse lying to your parents.* **3** [(from)] to free (someone) from a duty; *Can I be excused from football practice today?* | [+obj][+obj(d)] (especially *BrE*) *I was excused football practice because I had a cold.* **4** [usually pass.] *euph* (said especially by children at school) to give permission to (someone) to go to the TOILET; *May I be excused, Miss?* **5** Excuse me: **a**) (a polite expression used when starting to speak to a stranger, when one wants to get past a person, or when one disagrees with something they have said) forgive me: *Excuse me, does this bus go to the station?* | *He pushed his way through the crowd, saying 'Excuse me.'* | *'Excuse me, but you're completely wrong.* **b**) *AmE* for SORRY: *She said 'Excuse me' when she stepped on my foot.* **6** excuse oneself: **a**) to offer an excuse **b**) to ask permission to be absent: *He excused himself from the party.* **7** Excuse me! also Excuse me for living! —*infrnl* (said humorously or angrily when really meaning that a complaint against you is very unreasonable and about nothing) forgive me: *'You weren't very polite to your mother.' 'Well, excuse me – I'm not perfect!'* | *'I wish you hadn't embarrassed me by telling those bad jokes.' 'Well, excuse me for living!'*
> In British English, you say **(I'm) sorry** to a person if you accidentally touch them, or push against them, or get in their way (for example, if you step on someone's foot). You might also hear the rather old-fashioned expression **I beg your pardon**. In American English you say **Excuse me**.
**ex·cuse**² /ɪk'skju:s/ *n* [C;U(for)] **1** the reason, whether true or untrue, given when asking to be forgiven for absence, wrong behaviour, a fault etc: *His excuse for being late was that he had missed the bus.* | *Stop making excuses!* | *I know it's poor work. I can only say by way of excuse/in excuse that I was ill at the time.* **2** a reason; JUSTIFICATION: *She loves giving parties, and does so whenever she can find an excuse.* (=e.g. a birthday ANNIVERSARY etc) | [+to-v] *trying to think of an excuse to leave* **3** make one's/someone's excuses to explain why one/someone is not doing something or is absent: *Please make my excuses at tomorrow's meeting – I've got too much work to do to come.*
Compare **reason**, **excuse**, and **pretext**: *His reason for leaving early was that his wife was ill.* (=she really was ill) | *His excuse for leaving early was that his wife was ill.* (=he said she was ill, and this may or may not have been true) | *He left early on the pretext that his wife was ill.* (=she was not ill at all and he had another reason for leaving early)
**ex-di-rec-to-ry** /eks daɪ'rektəri, -də-/ *BrE* || **unlisted** *AmE* — *adj* (of a telephone number) not in the telephone book: *I've decided to go ex-directory.* (=have my number removed from the telephone book)
**ex·e·cra·ble** /'eksɪkrəbəl/ *adj* *fml* extremely bad: *She has execrable manners.* →-**bly** *adv*
**ex·e·crate** /'eksɪkreɪt/ *v* [T] *fml* to feel or express hatred of; curse →**cration** /ˌeksɪ'kreɪʃən/ *n* [C;U]
**ex·ec·u·tant** /ɪg'zekjʊtənt/ *n* *fml* a performer, especially of musical pieces
**ex·e·cute** /'eksɪkju:t/ *v* [T] **1** to kill (someone) as a lawful punishment: *She was executed for murder.* **2** *fml* to perform or do (an order, plan, or piece of work) completely; *The plan was good, but it was badly executed.* | *The house-to-house search was executed with military precision.* **3** *fml* to perform (music, dance steps etc) **4** *law* to carry out the orders in (a WILL)
**ex·e·cu·tion** /eksɪ'kju:ʃən/ *n* **1** [C;U] (a case of) lawful killing as a punishment; *Executions used to be held in public.* **2** [U(of)] *fml* the carrying out, performance, or completion of an order, plan, or piece of work; *The idea was never put/carried into execution.* **3** [U] *fml* skill in performing music; *The musician's execution was perfect, but he played without feeling.* **4** [U(of)] *law* the act of carrying out the orders in a WILL
**ex·e·cu·tion·er** /eksə'kju:ʃənər/ *n* an official who executes criminals
**ex·ec·u·tive**¹ /ɪg'zekjʊtɪv/ *adj* [A] **1** concerned with making and carrying out decisions, especially in business: *She has been given full executive powers in this matter.* **2** having the power to carry out government decisions and laws: *The executive branch carries out the laws which have been made by the politicians.* **3** of or for EXECUTIVES: *Secretaries aren't allowed to use the executive dining room.* **4** desirable and expensive because of the high quality suitable for an executive
**executive**² *n* **1** [C] a person in an executive position, especially in business: *a young advertising executive* **2** [the S+sing./pl. v] the EXECUTIVE branch of government → compare JUDICIARY, LEGISLATURE
**ex'ecutive car** *n* a car which is expensive but which an executive could afford and would be likely to buy
**ex'ecutive house** *n* a modern house which costs more than average, but which an executive could afford and would be likely to buy
**ex,ecutive 'housing** *n* [U] executive houses
**ex,ecutive 'jet** *n* a small JET plane for the use of an important businessman or government official
**ex,ecutive 'privilege** *n* *AmE* the right of the President or another government leader to keep the records of his office secret. In the US, during Watergate, the Supreme Court ruled that there are limits to executive privilege.
**ex'ecutive suite** *n* a well furnished set of rooms in an office building for the use of an important businessman or government official
**ex·ec·u·tor** /ɪg'zekjʊtər/ *n* a person or bank that carries out the orders in someone's WILL after that person has died: *He appointed the bank to act as his executor.* | *Her son was one of the executors.*
**ex·e·ge·sis** /eksɪ'dʒi:ss/ *n* *pl.* **-ses** /-si:z/ [C;U] *tech* serious explanation after deep study, especially of the Bible
**ex·em·plar** /ɪg'zemplər, -plɑ:r/ *n* *fml* a good or typical example; MODEL
**ex·em·pla·ry** /ɪg'zempləri/ *n* **1** *apprec* suitable to be copied as an example: *Her behaviour was exemplary.* (=very good) **2** [A] *fml* intended to serve as a warning: *The heavy jail sentence was given partly as an exemplary punishment.* (=to warn other people) | **exemplary damages** (=money that the court makes someone pay as a warning not to cause damage to someone else's good name)
**ex·em·pli·fy** /ɪg'zemplɪfaɪ/ *v* [T] **1** to be an example of: *His pictures nicely exemplify the sort of painting that was bein