establishment

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act of establishing.
2. n. The condition or fact of being established.
3. n. Something established, as:
4. n. An arranged order or system, especially a legal code.
5. n. A permanent civil, political, or military organization.
6. n. An established church.
7. n. A place of residence or business with its possessions and staff.
8. n. A public or private institution, such as a hospital or school.
9. n. An established social order, as:
10. n. A group of people holding most of the power and influence in a government or society. Often used with the.
11. n. A controlling group in a given field of activity. Often used with the.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act of establishing, ordaining, confirming, setting up, or placing on a firm basis or sure footing; the act of settling or fixing permanently, or of proving, substantiating, or making good: as, the establishment of a factory; the establishment of a claim.
2. n. A fixed or settled condition; secured or certain permanence; fixity or certainty.
3. n. Fixed or settled order of things; constituted order or system, as of government; organization.
4. n. Fixed or stated allowance for subsistence; income; salary.
5. n. That which has been established or set up for any purpose. Specifically— A permanent civil or military force or organization, such as a fixed garrison or a local government: as, the king has establishments to support in the four quarters of the globe.
6. n. The authoritative recognition by a state of a church, or branch of a church, as the national church; the legal position of such a church in relation to the state; hence, also, the religious body thus recognized by the state, and maintained and more or less supported as the state church: especially used of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. See established church, under church.
7. n. The quota or number of men in an army, regiment, etc.: as, a peace establishment.

Wiktionary

1. n. The act of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation.
2. n. The state of being established, founded, etc.; fixed state.
3. n. That which is established; as a form of government, a permanent organization, business or force, or the place where one is permanently fixed for residence.
4. n. slang The establishment: the ruling class or authority group in a society; especially, an entrenched authority dedicated to preserving the status quo. Sometimes capitalized: the Establishment.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The act of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation.
2. n. The state of being established, founded, and the like; fixed state.
3. n. That which is established
4. n. A form of government, civil or ecclesiastical; especially, a system of religion maintained by the civil power.
5. n. A permanent civil, military, or commercial, force or organization.
6. n. The place in which one is permanently fixed for residence or business; residence, including grounds, furniture, equipage, etc.; with which one is fitted out; also, any office or place of business, with its fixtures; that which serves for the carrying on of a business

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
2. n. the act of forming or establishing something
3. n. the cognitive process of establishing a valid proof
4. n. a public or private structure (business or governmental or educational) including buildings and equipment for business or residence
5. n. the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something
6. n. (ecology) the process by which a plant or animal becomes established in a new habitat
7. n. any large organization