2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Institution  \In`sti*tu"tion\,  n.  [L.  institutio:  cf  F. 
  institution.] 
  1.  The  act  or  process  of  instituting;  as: 
  a  Establishment;  foundation;  enactment;  as  the 
  institution  of  a  school. 
 
  The  institution  of  God's  law  is  described  as 
  being  established  by  solemn  injunction. 
  --Hooker. 
  b  Instruction;  education.  [Obs.]  --Bentley. 
  c  (Eccl.  Law)  The  act  or  ceremony  of  investing  a 
  clergyman  with  the  spiritual  part  of  a  benefice,  by 
  which  the  care  of  souls  is  committed  to  his  charge. 
  --Blackstone. 
 
  2.  That  which  instituted  or  established;  as: 
  a  Established  order  method,  or  custom;  enactment; 
  ordinance;  permanent  form  of  law  or  polity. 
 
  The  nature  of  our  people,  Our  city's 
  institutions.  --Shak. 
  b  An  established  or  organized  society  or  corporation;  an 
  establishment,  especially  of  a  public  character,  or 
  affecting  a  community;  a  foundation;  as  a  literary 
  institution;  a  charitable  institution;  also  a 
  building  or  the  buildings  occupied  or  used  by  such 
  organization;  as  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 
  c  Anything  forming  a  characteristic  and  persistent 
  feature  in  social  or  national  life  or  habits. 
 
  We  ordered  a  lunch  (the  most  delightful  of 
  English  institutions,  next  to  dinner)  to  be 
  ready  against  our  return.  --Hawthorne. 
 
  3.  That  which  institutes  or  instructs;  a  textbook;  a  system 
  of  elements  or  rules  an  institute.  [Obs.] 
 
  There  is  another  manuscript,  of  above  three  hundred 
  years  old  .  .  .  being  an  institution  of  physic. 
  --Evelyn. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  institution 
  n  1:  an  organization  founded  and  united  for  a  specific  purpose 
  [syn:  {establishment}] 
  2:  a  building  or  complex  of  buildings  where  an  organization  for 
  the  promotion  of  some  cause  is  situated 
  3:  a  custom  that  for  a  long  time  has  been  an  important  feature 
  of  some  group  or  society;  "the  institution  of  marriage"; 
  "he  had  become  an  institution  in  the  theater" 
  4:  starting  something  for  the  first  time  [syn:  {initiation},  {founding}, 
  {foundation},  {origination},  {creation},  {instauration}] 

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