Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Animation \An`i*ma"tion\, n. [L. animatio, fr. animare.]
   1. The act of animating, or giving life or spirit; the state
      of being animate or alive.

            The animation of the same soul quickening the whole
            frame.                                --Bp. Hall.

            Perhaps an inanimate thing supplies me, while I am
            speaking, with whatever I possess of animation.
                                                  --Landor.

   2. The state of being lively, brisk, or full of spirit and
      vigor; vivacity; spiritedness; as, he recited the story
      with great animation.

   {Suspended animation}, temporary suspension of the vital
      functions, as in persons nearly drowned.

   Syn: Liveliness; vivacity; spirit; buoyancy; airiness;
        sprightliness; promptitude; enthusiasm; ardor;
        earnestness; energy. See {Liveliness}.

Source : WordNet®

animation
     n 1: the condition of living or the state of being alive; "while
          there's life there's hope"; "life depends on many
          chemical and physical processes" [syn: {life}, {living},
           {aliveness}]
     2: the property of being able to survive and grow; "the
        vitality of a seed" [syn: {vitality}]
     3: quality of being active or spirited or alive and vigorous
        [syn: {spiritedness}, {invigoration}, {brio}, {vivification}]
     4: the activity of giving vitality and vigour to something
        [syn: {vivification}, {invigoration}]
     5: the making of animated cartoons
     6: general activity and motion [syn: {liveliness}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

animation
     
         The creation of artificial moving images.
     
        {Usenet} newsgroup: {news:comp.graphics.animation}.  {FAQ
        (ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/comp.graphics.animation)}.
     
        (1995-11-24)