The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pursuit \Pur*suit"\, n. [F. poursuite, fr. poursuivre. See
   Pursue, v. t.]
   1. The act of following or going after; esp., a following
      with haste, either for sport or in hostility; chase;
      prosecution; as, the pursuit of game; the pursuit of an
      enemy. --Clarendon.
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            Weak we are, and can not shun pursuit. --Shak.
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   2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain;
      endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of
      knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
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   3. Course of business or occupation; continued employment
      with a view to same end; as, mercantile pursuits; a
      literary pursuit.
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   4. (Law) Prosecution. [Obs.]
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            That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time
            did pertain to the spiritual court.   --Fuller.
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   Curve of pursuit (Geom.), a curve described by a point
      which is at each instant moving towards a second point,
      which is itself moving according to some specified law.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pursuit
    n 1: the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture;
         "the culprit started to run and the cop took off in
         pursuit" [syn: pursuit, chase, pursual, following]
    2: a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria;
       "the pursuit of love"; "life is more than the pursuance of
       fame"; "a quest for wealth" [syn: pursuit, pursuance,
       quest]
    3: an auxiliary activity [syn: avocation, by-line, hobby,
       pursuit, sideline, spare-time activity]
    4: a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually
       pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main
       pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his
       interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited
       pursuits" [syn: pastime, interest, pursuit]