2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Demonstration  \Dem`on*stra"tion\,  n.  [L.  demonstratio:  cf  F. 
  d['e]monstration.] 
  1.  The  act  of  demonstrating;  an  exhibition;  proof; 
  especially,  proof  beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt; 
  indubitable  evidence,  to  the  senses  or  reason. 
 
  Those  intervening  ideas  which  serve  to  show  the 
  agreement  of  any  two  others  are  called  ``proofs;'' 
  and  where  agreement  or  disagreement  is  by  this  means 
  plainly  and  clearly  perceived,  it  is  called 
  demonstration.  --Locke. 
 
  2.  An  expression,  as  of  the  feelings,  by  outward  signs;  a 
  manifestation;  a  show 
 
  Did  your  letters  pierce  the  queen  to  any 
  demonstration  of  grief?  --Shak. 
 
  Loyal  demonstrations  toward  the  prince.  --Prescott. 
 
  3.  (Anat.)  The  exhibition  and  explanation  of  a  dissection  or 
  other  anatomical  preparation. 
 
  4.  (Mil.)  a  decisive  exhibition  of  force,  or  a  movement 
  indicating  an  attack. 
 
  5.  (Logic)  The  act  of  proving  by  the  syllogistic  process,  or 
  the  proof  itself 
 
  6.  (Math.)  A  course  of  reasoning  showing  that  a  certain 
  result  is  a  necessary  consequence  of  assumed  premises;  -- 
  these  premises  being  definitions,  axioms,  and  previously 
  established  propositions. 
 
  {Direct},  or  {Positive},  {demonstration}  (Logic  &  Math.),  one 
  in  which  the  correct  conclusion  is  the  immediate  sequence 
  of  reasoning  from  axiomatic  or  established  premises;  -- 
  opposed  to 
 
  {Indirect},  or  {Negative},  {demonstration}  (called  also 
  {reductio  ad  absurdum}),  in  which  the  correct  conclusion 
  is  an  inference  from  the  demonstration  that  any  other 
  hypothesis  must  be  incorrect. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  demonstration 
  n  1:  the  act  of  presenting  something  "he  gave  the  customer  a 
  demonstration"  [syn:  {presentation},  {presentment}] 
  2:  a  show  of  military  force  or  preparedness;  "he  confused  the 
  enemy  with  feints  and  demonstrations" 
  3:  a  public  display  of  group  feelings;  "there  were  violent 
  demonstrations  against  the  war" 
  4:  proof  of  a  logical  theorem  [syn:  {logical  proof}] 
  5:  a  visual  presentation  showing  how  something  works  "the 
  lecture  was  accompanied  by  dramatic  demonstrations"  [syn: 
  {demo}] 

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