The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recreation \Rec"re*a"tion\ (-?"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]cr['e]ation,
   L. recreatio.]
   The act of recreating, or the state of being recreated;
   refreshment of the strength and spirits after toil;
   amusement; diversion; sport; pastime.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Re-creation \Re`-cre*a"tion\ (r?`kr?*?sh?n), n. [See
   Re-create.]
   A forming anew; a new creation or formation.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

recreation
    n 1: an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba
         diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for
         recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles";
         "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation"
         [syn: diversion, recreation]
    2: activity that refreshes and recreates; activity that renews
       your health and spirits by enjoyment and relaxation; "time
       for rest and refreshment by the pool"; "days of joyous
       recreation with his friends" [syn: refreshment,
       recreation]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

47 Moby Thesaurus words for "recreation":
   amusement, bracer, bracing, cordial, disport, dissipation,
   distraction, diversion, divertisement, divertissement, ease,
   enjoyment, enlivenment, entertainment, exhilaration, frolic, fun,
   fun and games, hilarity, invigoration, jollity, mirth, passe-temps,
   pastime, pick-me-up, play, pleasure, reanimation, refection,
   refreshing, refreshment, regale, regalement, reinvigoration,
   relaxation, renewal, repose, revival, revivescence, revivescency,
   revivification, rollick, solace, sport, stimulation, tonic,
   vivification



The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

RECREATION, n.  A particular kind of dejection to relieve a general
fatigue.