\Nav`i*ga"tion\, n. [L. navigatio: cf. F.
navigation.]
1. The act of navigating; the act of passing on water in
   ships or other vessels; the state of being navigable.
2.
   (a) the science or art of conducting ships or vessels from
       one place to another, including, more especially, the
       method of determining a ship's position, course,
       distance passed over, etc., on the surface of the
       globe, by the principles of geometry and astronomy.
   (b) The management of sails, rudder, etc.; the mechanics
       of traveling by water; seamanship.
3. Ships in general. [Poetic] --Shak.
{A["e]rial navigation}, the act or art of sailing or floating
   in the air, as by means of ballons; a["e]ronautic.
{Inland navigation}, {Internal navigation}, navigation on
   rivers, inland lakes, etc.