Definition of: mission

(mish′ən) noun
1. The act of sending, or the state of being sent, as on some errand.
2. The sending forth of men with authority to preach or spread the gospel; authority so given by God or the church.
3. The business or service on which one is sent.
4. That which one is or feels destined to accomplish; the destined or chosen end of one's efforts.
5. An effort to spread, or the work of spreading, religious teaching.
6. A single field or locality covered by missionary work; the body of missionaries there established; a missionary station; also, any educational, religious, or welfare center for the underprivileged in a city.
7. Eccl. A regularly organized church and congregation not having the status of a parish in canon law; a quasi–parish.
8. The office of a foreign ambassador or envoy.
9. The persons sent on any errand or service.
10. Mil. A definite task assigned to an individual or unit of the armed services.
11. Aeron. A flight operation of a single aircraft or formation.
—adjective
1. Pertaining to or belonging to a mission.
2. Like the early Spanish architecture and simple furniture of the missions of the SW United States.
—v.t.
1. To send on a mission.
2. To establish a mission in. [<L missio, -onis <missus, pp. of mittere send]
—mis′ sion·al adjective