/ɪk'skju:s; ɪk`skjus/
n ~ (for sth/doing sth) (true or invented) reason given to explain or defend one's behaviour; apology 理由; 解释; 辩护; 辩解; 藉口; 道歉
*He's always making excuses for being late. 他迟到总是有藉口.
* There's no excuse for such behaviour. 这种行为不可原谅.
* He made his excuses (ie He apologized) and left the meeting. 他表示歉意後就离开了会场.
* Please offer/give them my excuses. 请代我向他们致歉.
* I can't attend the meeting would you make my excuses (ie apologize and give my reasons for not attending), please? 我不能参加会议--你能替我道歉并解释一下吗?
* (fml 文) Those who are absent without (good) excuse (ie without giving a (good) excuse) will be dismissed. 无故缺席者一律开除.

/ɪk'skju:z; ɪk`skjuz/
v
1 (a) [Tn, Tn.pr, Tsg] ~ sb/sth (for sth/doing sth) forgive or overlook (a fault, etc); pardon sb/sth 宽恕或饶恕（过失等）; 原谅某人[某事物]
*Please excuse my late arrival. 请原谅我来晚了.
* Excuse me for being late. 原谅我迟到了.
* Excuse my interrupting you. 对不起, 打扰你一下.
(b) [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sb/sth (for sth/doing sth) give reasons showing, or intended to show, that (a person or his actions) cannot be blamed 为（某人或某行为）辩解或辩白
*Nothing can excuse such rudeness. 如此无礼决不可宽恕.
* She stood up, excused herself (ie apologized for leaving) and walked out of the meeting. 她站起身来为中途离开道了歉, 然後走出会场.
* He excused himself for being late by saying that his car had broken down. 他为迟到作辩解, 说他的汽车坏了.
2 [esp passive 尤用于被动语态
*Tn, Tn.pr, Dn.n] ~ sb (from sth) set sb free from a duty, requirement, punishment, etc 免除某人的责任、对其要求、惩罚等
*He was excused (from) piano practice. 他获准不必练习钢琴.
* They may be excused (from doing) this exercise. 他们可以免做这一练习.
3 (idm 习语) excuse me
(a) (used as an apology when one interrupts, disagrees, disapproves or has to behave impolitely 用作打扰别人、表示不赞成、不同意或失礼时的道歉用语)
*Excuse me, is anybody sitting here? 请问, 这儿有人坐吗?
* Excuse me, but I don't think that's quite true. 很抱歉, 我认为这与事实略有出入.
(b) excuse me? (esp US) Please repeat what you said. 请再说一遍. excuse/pardon my French => French. may I be excused? (euph 婉 Brit) (used esp by schoolchildren) may I go to the toilet? （尤作小学生用语）我可以上厕所吗?

NOTE ON USAGE 用法
*
1 We say Excuse me to someone if we want to get his or her attention or before we do something that might disturb him or her, eg interrupt him/her, push him/her in a crowd, disagree with him/her 我们说Excuse me, 是为了引起他人注意或因为可能打扰他人, 如打断别人谈话、在人群中推挤别人、不同意别人的意见
*Excuse me, can I get past, please? 劳驾, 能让我过去吗?
2 We say Sorry or (formally) I beg your pardon when we need to apologize for something 我们说Sorry或（郑重其事时说）I beg your pardon, 是因为需要为某事道歉
*Sorry, did I tread on your toe? 对不起, 我踩着你的脚了吧?
* I beg your pardon. I think you were next in the queue. 对不起, 你原来是排在下一个的. In US English Pardon me and Excuse me are used for apologies. 在美式英语中, Pardon me和Excuse me都用以表示道歉.
3 We say Pardon? when we did not hear what someone said and want them to repeat it. 若未听见某人刚说的话而请其重复时, 说Pardon?. *In this case Sorry? is also used in British English and Excuse me? or Pardon me? in US English. 在这种情况下, 用英式英语还可说Sorry?, 而用美式英语则要说Excuse me?或Pardon me?.