The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tuition \Tu*i"tion\, n. [L. tuitio protection, guarding, from
   tueri, p. p. tuitus, to see, watch, protect: cf. F. tuition.
   Cf. Tutor.]
   1. Superintending care over a young person; the particular
      watch and care of a tutor or guardian over his pupil or
      ward; guardianship.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Especially, the act, art, or business of teaching;
      instruction; as, children are sent to school for tuition;
      his tuition was thorough.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The money paid for instruction; the price or payment for
      instruction; as, tuition must be paid in full before
      graduation.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

tuition
    n 1: a fee paid for instruction (especially for higher
         education); "tuition and room and board were more than
         $25,000" [syn: tuition, tuition fee]
    2: teaching pupils individually (usually by a tutor hired
       privately) [syn: tutelage, tuition, tutorship]