institution
     n 1: an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
          [syn: {establishment}]
     2: an establishment consisting of a building or complex of
        buildings where an organization for the promotion of some
        cause is situated
     3: a custom that for a long time has been an important feature
        of some group or society; "the institution of marriage";
        "the institution of slavery"; "he had become an
        institution in the theater"
     4: the act of starting something for the first time;
        introducing something new; "she looked forward to her
        initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new
        scientific society"; "he regards the fork as a modern
        introduction" [syn: {initiation}, {founding}, {foundation},
         {origination}, {creation}, {innovation}, {introduction},
        {instauration}]
     5: a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
        [syn: {mental hospital}, {psychiatric hospital}, {mental
        institution}, {mental home}, {insane asylum}, {asylum}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0