Sorry guys, there was no other definition of communism. It is a type of economy, even when it was implimented in USSR and China. Just like capitalism is a form of economy here. You are thinking or totaltarianism and dictatorship, which coupled with communism, it is total control. There was no "former" definition, but rather, the word itself has just gotten negative connotation even though it quite possibly is a fine method of economy but not particularly my cup of tea.
It is just a pet peave of mine when people do not understand what the differences between methods of economy and methods of government.