[syn: refinement, civilization, civilisation]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Civilization \Civ`i*li*za"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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
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: civilization,
civilisation]
2: the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced
stage of development and organization [syn: civilization,
civilisation]
3: a particular society at a particular time and place; "early
Mayan civilization" [syn: culture, civilization,
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,
civilization, civilisation]
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