[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

civilization \civ`iliza"tion\, n. cf. f. civilisation.
   1. the act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized;
      national culture; refinement.
      1913 webster

            our manners, our civilization, and all the good
            things connected with manners, and with
            civilization, have, in this european world of ours,
            depended for ages upon two principles -- . . . the
            spirit of a gentleman, and spirit of religion.
                                                  --burke
      1913 webster

   2. law rendering a criminal process civil. obs.
      1913 webster

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

civilization
     n 1: a society in an advanced state of social development e.g.,
          with complex legal and political and religious
          organizations; "the people slowly progressed from
          barbarism to civilization" syn: civilisation
     2: the social process whereby societies achieve civilization
        syn: civilisation
     3: a particular society at a particular time and place; "early
        mayan civilization" syn: culture, civilisation
     4: the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste;
        "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for
        his generosity and civilization" syn: refinement, civilisation
see also:
civilisation culture refinement 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

29 moby thesaurus words for "civilization":
   acculturation, civility, complex, cultivation, cultural drift,
   culture, culture area, culture center, culture complex,
   culture conflict, culture contact, culture pattern, culture trait,
   customs, edification, education, enculturation, enlightenment,
   ethos, folkways, key trait, mores, polish, refinement,
   socialization, society, sophistication, trait, trait-complex

Civilization >> C Words
Civilization, definition of term: Civilization
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