Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Contribution \Con`tri*bu"tion\, n. [L. contributio: cf. F.
   contribution.]
   1. The act of contributing.

   2. That which is contributed; -- either the portion which an
      individual furnishes to the common stock, or the whole
      which is formed by the gifts of individuals.

            A certain contribution for the poor saints which are
            at jerusalem.                         --Rom. xv. 26.

            Aristotle's actual contributions to the physical
            sciences.                             --Whewell.

   3. (Mil.) An irregular and arbitrary imposition or tax leved
      on the people of a town or country.

            These sums, . . . and the forced contributions paid
            by luckless peasants, enabled him to keep his
            straggling troops together.           --Motley.

   4. (Law) Payment, by each of several jointly liable, of a
      share in a loss suffered or an amount paid by one of their
      number for the common benefit.

Source : WordNet®

contribution
     n 1: any one of a number of individual efforts in a common
          endeavor; "I am proud of my contribution to the team's
          success"; "they all did their share of the work" [syn: {part},
           {share}]
     2: a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to
        some worthwhile cause [syn: {donation}]
     3: act of giving in common with others for a common purpose
        especially to a charity [syn: {donation}]
     4: an amount of money contributed; "he expected his
        contribution to be repaid with interest"
     5: a writing for publication especially one of a collection of
        writings as an article or story