The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Publication \Pub`li*ca"tion\, n. [L. publicatio confiscation:
   cf. F. publication. See Publish.]
   1. The act of publishing or making known; notification to the
      people at large, either by words, writing, or printing;
      proclamation; divulgation; promulgation; as, the
      publication of the law at Mount Sinai; the publication of
      the gospel; the publication of statutes or edicts.
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   2. The act of offering a book, pamphlet, engraving, etc., to
      the public by sale or by gratuitous distribution.
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            The publication of these papers was not owing to our
            folly, but that of others.            --Swift.
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   3. That which is published or made known; especially, any
      book, pamphlet, etc., offered for sale or to public
      notice; as, a daily or monthly publication.
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   4. An act done in public. [R. & Obs.]
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            His jealousy . . . attends the business, the
            recreations, the publications, and retirements of
            every man.                            --Jer. Taylor.
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   Publication of a libel (Law), such an exhibition of a libel
      as brings it to the notice of at least one person other
      than the person libeled.

   Publication of a will (Law), the delivery of a will, as his
      own, by a testator to witnesses who attest it.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

publication
    n 1: a copy of a printed work offered for distribution
    2: the act of issuing printed materials [syn: issue,
       publication]
    3: the communication of something to the public; making
       information generally known
    4: the business of issuing printed matter for sale or
       distribution [syn: publication, publishing]