The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

promotion \pro*mo"tion\ (pr[-o]*m[=o]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. promotio:
   cf. F. promotion.]
   The act of promoting, advancing, or encouraging; the act of
   exalting in rank or honor; also, the condition of being
   advanced, encouraged, or exalted in honor; preferment.
   --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

         Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the
         west, nor from the south.                --Ps. lxxv. 6.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

promotion
    n 1: a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea
         or person or institution; "the packaging of new ideas"
         [syn: promotion, publicity, promotional material,
         packaging]
    2: act of raising in rank or position [ant: demotion]
    3: encouragement of the progress or growth or acceptance of
       something [syn: promotion, furtherance, advancement]
    4: the advancement of some enterprise; "his experience in
       marketing resulted in the forwarding of his career" [syn:
       forwarding, furtherance, promotion]