excurrent

[ ik-skur-uhnt, -skuhr- ]

adjective

1. running out or forth.
2. Zoology. giving passage outward; affording exit:

   the excurrent canal of certain sponges.

3. Botany.
   1. having the axis prolonged so as to form an undivided main stem or trunk, as the stem of the spruce.
   2. projecting beyond the apex, as the midrib in certain leaves.

excurrent

/ ɛkˈskʌrənt /

adjective

1. zoology having an outward flow, as certain pores in sponges, ducts, etc
2. botany
   1. (of veins) extending beyond the margin of the leaf
   2. having an undivided main stem or trunk, as the spruce and other conifers
3. flowing or running in an outward direction

Word History and Origins

Origin of excurrent¹

1595–1605; < Latin excurrent- (stem of excurrēns ) present participle of excurrere to run forth. See ex- ¹, current

Word History and Origins

Origin of excurrent¹

C19: from Latin excurrere to run forth; see excursion

Example Sentences

The answer may involve the shipworm’s sensory papillae, fleshy bumps on the excurrent siphons of the animal that become erect during pseudocopulation, Dr. Distel said.

From New York Times

Each shipworm has an incurrent siphon, which takes in water, and an excurrent siphon, which expels waste.

From New York Times

In certain knots, the excurrent siphons of different shipworms appeared to be wrestling with each other in competition, pulling incurrent siphons away from groping the excurrent ones.

From New York Times

These zooids have an incurrent and excurrent siphon and use cilia to pump water for feeding, respiration and movement. Using a mucus net, they filter water for small planktonic microorganisms.

From Washington Post

Achenes top-shaped, 5-costate, villous; pappus of 5–10 long thin scales, awn-tipped by the excurrent nerve.—Erect herbs with alternate leaves and large showy heads of yellow or purplish fragrant flowers on terminal or scapiform peduncles.

From Project Gutenberg