noun

• (Ancient Rome) A victory ceremony of less importance than a triumph.
  "Triumph, a Solemn Honour done to Generals after great Victories, receiving them into Town with Publick Acclamations; there were two ſorts among the Romans; the Great, that was ſimply called Tr[i]umph; and the Little called, Ovation; […] [I]t was by Special Priviledge that L. Cornelius Lentulus, Proconſul, was admitted to this Honour of an Ovation, in 553. […]"
• (by extension) A (ceremony for the) recognition of some achievement.
  "Proceede then in your bleſt Inauguration, / And celebrate this Annuall Ovation; / Whilſt you nor this way, nor to that way leane, / But ſhunne th' extreames, to keepe the golden meane."
• (by extension) Prolonged enthusiastic applause.
  "First things first – everyone at Southampton enjoyed a thrilling Euro 2020 qualifier that led to a rousing ovation for both sides at the conclusion of England's chaotic 5-3 victory."

verb

• (ambitransitive, informal, rare) To give (someone) an ovation (prolonged enthusiastic applause).

noun

• (zoology, obsolete, rare) The act of laying eggs.
  "[The ichneumon wasp] drops an egg. She next seeks out a small green caterpillar inhabiting the leaves of the cabbage-plant, which she punctures with her sting, yet so slightly and delicately as not to kill it; she then rolls it up into a circle, and places it in the sandy nest, immediately over the egg. She continues the same labour till she has counted twelve, and deposited twelve caterpillars, one over another; and thus repeats the process of ovation and supply, till she has exhausted herself of her entire stock of eggs."