Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

excelsior

Pronunciation: /ɛkˈsɛlsɪɔː/
Definition of excelsior

noun

  • 1used in the names of hotels and products to indicate superior quality:they stayed at the Excelsior
  • 2 [mass noun] North American softwood shavings used for packing fragile goods or stuffing furniture.

Origin:

late 18th century (as an exclamation): from Latin, comparative of excelsus, from ex- 'out, beyond' + celsus 'lofty'

excelsior in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of excelsior in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

logomachy

/ ləˈgɒməki /
noun
an argument about words …