realization-n; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: understanding

Commentary: REALIZATION[+event] The act or event of coming to understand something.

Examples:
The realization that John was a murderer came shortly after John confessed to several murders.
The participants had a growing realization of the risks involved.
I had a brilliant realization yesterday!
Self-realization is the process of understanding yourself.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: making real or concrete

Commentary: REALIZATION[+event] The act of making something real, actual, or concrete. Sometimes applies to musical compositions that were completed by someone other than the composer.

Examples:
Intelli-Soft planned to make a lot of money on the Internet, but there was never a realization of profits.
Our victory was the realization of a whole year's work.
I worked towards the realization of my dreams.
The laboratory's mission is the realization of student designs.
The composition is a realization of Beethoven's unfinished concerto.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 2 3 5 6

Sense Number 3: sale

Commentary: REALIZATION[+event] A sale in order to obtain money (as in the sale of stock, or the sale of assets of a bankrupt person). Can also refer to the money from such a sale.

Examples:
There's going to be a realization on John's estate tomorrow.
I used the realization of John's estate to buy a new toothbrush.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 4