Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Introduction \In`tro*duc"tion\, n. [L. introductio: cf. F.
   introduction. See {Introduce}.]
   1. The act of introducing, or bringing to notice.

   2. The act of formally making persons known to each other; a
      presentation or making known of one person to another by
      name; as, the introduction of one stranger to another.

   3. That part of a book or discourse which introduces or leads
      the way to the main subject, or part; preliminary; matter;
      preface; proem; exordium.

   4. A formal and elaborate preliminary treatise; specifically,
      a treatise introductory to other treatises, or to a course
      of study; a guide; as, an introduction to English
      literature.

Source : WordNet®

introduction
     n 1: the first section of a communication
     2: the act of beginning something new; "they looked forward to
        the debut of their new product line" [syn: {debut}, {first
        appearance}, {launching}, {unveiling}, {entry}]
     3: formally making a person known to another or to the public
        [syn: {presentation}, {intro}]
     4: a basic or elementary instructional text
     5: a new proposal; "they resisted the introduction of
        impractical alternatives"
     6: the act of putting one thing into another [syn: {insertion},
         {intromission}]
     7: the act of starting something for the first time;
        introducing something new; "she looked forward to her
        initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new
        scientific society"; "he regards the fork as a modern
        introduction" [syn: {initiation}, {founding}, {foundation},
         {institution}, {origination}, {creation}, {innovation}, {instauration}]