Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Prosecution \Pros`e*cu"tion\, n. [L. prosecutio a following.]
   1. The act or process of prosecuting, or of endeavoring to
      gain or accomplish something; pursuit by efforts of body
      or mind; as, the prosecution of a scheme, plan, design, or
      undertaking; the prosecution of war.

            Keeping a sharp eye on her domestics . . . in
            prosecution of their various duties.  --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

   2. (Law)
      (a) The institution and carrying on of a suit in a court
          of law or equity, to obtain some right, or to redress
          and punish some wrong; the carrying on of a judicial
          proceeding in behalf of a complaining party, as
          distinguished from defense.
      (b) The institution, or commencement, and continuance of a
          criminal suit; the process of exhibiting formal
          charges against an offender before a legal tribunal,
          and pursuing them to final judgment on behalf of the
          state or government, as by indictment or information.
      (c) The party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted.
          --Blackstone. Burrill. Mozley & W.

Source : WordNet®

prosecution
     n 1: the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a
          defendant for criminal behavior [syn: {criminal
          prosecution}] [ant: {defense}]
     2: the lawyers acting for the state to put the case against the
        defendant [ant: {defense}]
     3: the continuance of something begun with a view to its
        completion [syn: {pursuance}]