Main Entry: ded·i·ca·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən\

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

1 : an act or rite of dedicating to a divine being or to a sacred use
2 : a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose
3 : a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause
4 : self-sacrificing devotion <her dedication to the cause>
5 : a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something (as a building)

— ded·i·ca·to·ry \ˈde-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective