Institution - Definition

n 1: an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
[syn: institution, establishment]
2: an establishment consisting of 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"; "the
institution of slavery"; "he had become an institution in the
theater"
4: the act of starting something for the first time; introducing
something new; "she looked forward to her initiation as an
adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society" [syn:
initiation, founding, foundation, institution,
origination, creation, innovation, introduction,
instauration]
5: a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
[syn: mental hospital, psychiatric hospital, mental
institution, institution, mental home, insane asylum,
asylum]