importation

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act or business of importing.
2. n. The condition or process of being imported.
3. n. Something imported; an import.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act or practice of importing, or of bringing in or introducing from another country or state: as, the importation of live stock: opposed to exportation. Importations into the United States can be made only at ports of entry constituted by law. All goods, wares, and merchandise so imported must be entered at a custom-house by presenting a bill of lading, an invoice duly certified by the United States consul at the port of exportation, and a sworn description of the goods by the importer. Entry may be made by an authorized agent or attorney if the importer is sick or absent from the port. If the goods are free of duty, a permit to land is immediately issued, subject to official inspection and verification of the goods. If the goods are dutiable, the duties are estimated at the custom-house and paid in United States coin or equivalent government notes, and a permit is issued to send one or more packages to the appraiser's stores for examination, the residue being delivered to the importer under bond to produce them should the examination of packages show discrepancies. Goods which are appraised and found to be undervalued are subject to an additional duty on the excess, or, in certain cases, to additional duty on the whole appraised value as a penalty. In case of damage on a voyage of importation, an allowance is made by appraisal, and the duties are proportionably abated. Any fraudulent undervaluation or proceeding involves the confiscation of the goods concerned. Goods may be warehoused for three years, and withdrawn on payment of duty, with 10 per cent. added after the first year; they may be exported from a bonded warehouse free, or transported thence in bond to other domestic ports. To certain interior ports goods may be transported in bond, without appraisement, directly from the importing vessel. Upon the exportation of most manufactured fabrics containing materials upon which import duties have been paid, a drawback of such duties, less 10 per cent., is allowed.
2. n. One who or that which is brought from abroad; a person or thing brought into one country from another: as, the coachman was a recent importation; this umbrella is an importation.
3. n. The act of carrying or conveying; conveyance.

Wiktionary

1. n. The act or an instance of importing.
2. n. The act or an instance of carrying or conveying, especially into some system, place, area or country.
3. n. That which is imported; commodities or wares introduced into a country from abroad.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. rare The act of carrying, conveying, or delivering.
2. n. The act or practice of importing, or bringing into a country or state; -- opposed to exportation.
3. n. That which is imported; commodities or wares introduced into a country from abroad.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. commodities (goods or services) bought from a foreign country
2. n. the commercial activity of buying and bringing in goods from a foreign country