operation

[ op-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance, process, or manner of functioning or operating.
2. the state of being operative (usually preceded by in or into ):

   a rule no longer in operation.

3. the power to act; efficacy, influence, or force.
4. the exertion of force, power, or influence; agency:

   the operation of alcohol on the mind.

5. a process of a practical or mechanical nature in some form of work or production:

   a delicate operation in watchmaking.

6. a course or procedure of productive or industrial activity:

   building operations.

7. a particular process or course:

   mental operations.

8. a business transaction, especially one of a speculative nature; deal:

   a shady operation.

9. a business, especially one run on a large scale:

   a multinational operation.

10. Surgery. a procedure aimed at restoring or improving the health of a patient, as by correcting a malformation, removing diseased parts, implanting new parts, etc.
11. Mathematics.
    1. a mathematical process, as addition, multiplication, or differentiation.
    2. the action of applying a mathematical process to a quantity or quantities.
12. Computers. any discrete activity or action that is performed by a computer, as reading, writing, processing, sending, or receiving data:

    The http request operation has timed out.

13. Military.
    1. a campaign, mission, maneuver, or action.
    2. Usually operations. the conduct of a campaign, mission, etc.
    3. operations, a headquarters, office, or place from which a military campaign, air traffic to and from an airfield, or any of various other activities, is planned, conducted, and controlled.
    4. operations, the people who work at such a headquarters.

operation

/ ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, process, or manner of operating
2. the state of being in effect, in action, or operative (esp in the phrases in or into operation )
3. a process, method, or series of acts, esp of a practical or mechanical nature
4. surgery any manipulation of the body or one of its organs or parts to repair damage, arrest the progress of a disease, remove foreign matter, etc
5. 1. a military or naval action, such as a campaign, manoeuvre, etc
   2. ( capital and prenominal when part of a name )

      Operation Crossbow

6. maths
   1. any procedure, such as addition, multiplication, involution, or differentiation, in which one or more numbers or quantities are operated upon according to specific rules
   2. a function from a set onto itself
7. a commercial or financial transaction

operation

/ ŏp′ə-rā′shən /

1. Medicine.
   A surgical procedure for remedying an injury, ailment, defect, or dysfunction.
2. Mathematics.
   A process or action, such as addition, substitution, transposition, or differentiation, performed in a specified sequence and in accordance with specific rules.
3. A logical operation.
4. Computer Science.
   An action resulting from a single instruction.

Other Words From

• mis·op·er·a·tion noun
• pre·op·er·a·tion noun
• re·op·er·a·tion noun
• sub·op·er·a·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of operation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English operacioun, oparacion, operation, from Latin operātiōn- (stem of operātiō ), equivalent to operāt(us) + -iōn- noun suffix of action or condition; operate

Example Sentences

This is part of the Vala Umgodi, or "Close the Hole", operation to curb illegal mining.

From BBC

This is part of an intensive police and military operation to stop the practice that has severe environmental implications.

From BBC

It said there is concern that the government’s operation could have an impact on the right to life.

From BBC

We are deep in darkness, before a four-year storm that, according to those Trump has already appointed to his staff, will be replete with violence against immigrants, overwhelming tariffs, profuse and criminal lies, the further fracturing of our country, a desecration of the Constitution and many other forms of villainy — all of which will be conveniently blamed on Joe Biden and the Democrats in an unending stream of calumnious statements backed up by Elon Musk on his de facto state media operation.

From Salon

A former explosive ordnance specialist who was awarded a Bronze Star during Operation Enduring Freedom, he had developed into a quiet but effective leader.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• action
• activity
• affair
• agency
• application
• deal
• effort
• enterprise
• exercise
• force
• movement
• procedure
• process
• service
• transaction
• trip
• use
• work