The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Auscultation \Aus`cul*ta"tion\, n. [L. ausculcatio, fr.
   auscultare to listen, fr. a dim. of auris, orig. ausis, ear.
   See Auricle, and cf. Scout, n.]
   1. The act of listening or hearkening to. --Hickes.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Med.) An examination by listening either directly with
      the ear (immediate auscultation) applied to parts of the
      body, as the abdomen; or with the stethoscope (mediate
      auscultation), in order to distinguish sounds recognized
      as a sign of health or of disease.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

auscultation
    n 1: listening to sounds within the body (usually with a
         stethoscope)