Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

en·gage·ment       (ěn-gāj'mənt)  Pronunciation Key  n.   The act of engaging or the state of being engaged. Betrothal. Something that serves to engage; a pledge. A promise or agreement to be at a particular place at a particular time. Employment, especially for a specified time. A specific, often limited, period of employment. A hostile encounter; a battle. The condition of being in gear. Synonyms: These nouns denote a commitment to appear at a certain time and place: a business engagement; a dental appointment; a secret assignation; a date to play tennis; a rendezvous of agents at the border; a lovers' tryst.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

engagement
noun
1.	a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war; "Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga"; "he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement" [syn: battle]
2.	a meeting arranged in advance; "she asked how to avoid kissing at the end of a date" [syn: date]
3.	a mutual promise to marry [syn: betrothal]
4.	the act of giving someone a job [syn: employment]
5.	employment for performers or performing groups that lasts for a limited period of time; "the play had bookings throughout the summer"
6.	contact by fitting together; "the engagement of the clutch"; "the meshing of gears"
7.	the act of sharing in the activities of a group; "the teacher tried to increase his students' engagement in class activities" [ant: non-engagement]

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

engagement en·gage·ment (ěn-gāj'mənt)
n.
The entrance of the fetal head or presenting part into the upper opening of the maternal pelvis.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Engagement

En*gage"ment\, n. [Cf. F. engagement.]

1. The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering into contest.

2. The state of being engaged, pledged or occupied; specif., a pledge to take some one as husband or wife.

3. That which engages; engrossing occupation; employment of the attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any office.

Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league. --Milton.

4. (Mil.) An action; a fight; a battle.

In hot engagement with the Moors. --Dryden.

5. (Mach.) The state of being in gear; as, one part of a clutch is brought into engagement with the other part.

Syn: Vocation; business; employment; occupation; promise; stipulation; betrothal; word; battle; combat; fight; contest; conflict. See Battle.