Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Examination \Ex*am`i*na"tion\, n. [L. examinatio: cf. F.
   examination.]
   1. The act of examining, or state of being examined; a
      careful search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by
      study or experiment.

   2. A process prescribed or assigned for testing
      qualification; as, the examination of a student, or of a
      candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry.

            He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the
            examinations.                         --Macaulay.

   {Examination in chief}, or {Direct examination} (Law), that
      examination which is made of a witness by a party calling
      him.

   {Cross-examination}, that made by the opposite party.

   {Re["e]xamination}, or {Re-direct examination}, that made by
      a party calling a witness, after, and upon matters arising
      out of, the cross-examination.

   Syn: Search; inquiry; investigation; research; scrutiny;
        inquisition; inspection; exploration.

Cross-examination \Cross"-ex*am`i*na"tion\
   (kr?s"?gz-?m`?-n?"sh?n; 115), n. (Law)
   The interrogating or questioning of a witness by the party
   against whom he has been called and examined. See
   {Examination}.

Source : WordNet®

cross-examination
     n : (law) close questioning of a hostile witness in a court of
         law to discredit or throw a new light on the testimony
         already provided in direct examination