demonstration

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a show of military force or preparedness

   We confused the enemy with feints and demonstrations.

2. 2
   noun

   a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature)

   there were violent demonstrations against the war

3. 3
   noun

   a visual presentation showing how something works

   the lecture was accompanied by dramatic demonstrations

4. 4
   noun

   The act of demonstrating; showing or explaining something.

   [VV]e are able with playne demonſtration to proue, and vvith reaſon to perſvvade that in tymes paſt our fayth vvas alike, that then vve preached thinges correſpondent vnto the forme of faith already published of vs, ſo that none in this behalfe can repyne or gaynesay vs.

5. 5
   noun

   An event at which something will be demonstrated.

   I have to give a demonstration to the class tomorrow, and I'm ill-prepared.

6. 6
   noun

   A public display of group opinion, such as a protest march.

   It's produced tremendous activism and backlash: there's been all sorts of demonstrations and mobilizations in civil society, there's been examples from the people from the Administration being heckled in a restaurant or not served in a restaurant, there's been a growing crescendo of conversation about what that means.

7. 7
   noun

   A proof.

   He read the proposition. […] So he reads the demonstration of it, which referred him back to such a proposition,; which proposition he read.

8. 8
   noun

   a show or display

Etymology

From Middle English demonstracioun, from Old French demonstration, from Latin dēmōnstrātiōnem, from dēmōnstrāre (“show or explain”), from dē- (“of or concerning”) + mōnstrāre (“show”). Morphologically demonstrate + -ion.