Donation, n.
Etymology: [L. donatio; cf. F. donation.]
1. The act of giving or bestowing; a grant. After donation there an absolute change and alienation of the property of the thing given. South.
2. That which is given as a present; that which is transferred to another gratuitously; a gift. And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers. Shak.
3. (Law)
The act or contract by which a person voluntarily transfers the title to a thing of which be is the owner, from himself to another, without any consideration, as a free gift. Bouvier. Donation party, a party assembled at the house of some one, as of a clergyman, each one bringing some present. [U.S.] Bartlett.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Gift; present; benefaction; grant. See Gift.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for donation; he lists it under gift.
Where he writes about it:
A donation is something, perhaps of great, never of trivial value, given usually on some public ground, as to a cause or to a person representing a cause, but not necessarily of value beyond the immediate present; as, a donation to a pastor. — from gift