The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Acquisition \Ac`qui*si"tion\, n. [L. acquisitio, fr. acquirere:
   cf. F. acquisition. See Acquire.]
   1. The act or process of acquiring.
      [1913 Webster]

            The acquisition or loss of a province. --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Specifically: (Business, Finance) The purchase of one
      commercial enterprise by another, whether for cash, or in
      a trade of stock of the purchasing company for that of the
      purchased company.

   Syn: buyout, takeover.
        [PJC]

   3. The thing acquired or gained; an acquirement; a gain; as,
      learning is an acquisition.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: See Acquirement.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

acquisition
    n 1: the act of contracting or assuming or acquiring possession
         of something; "the acquisition of wealth"; "the acquisition
         of one company by another"
    2: something acquired; "a recent acquisition by the museum"
    3: the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge; "the
       child's acquisition of language" [syn: learning,
       acquisition]
    4: an ability that has been acquired by training [syn: skill,
       accomplishment, acquirement, acquisition, attainment]