operationnoun
uk/ˌɒp.ərˈeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌɑː.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/operation noun (WORK)
C1 [ U ] the fact of operating or being active:
[ U ] the way that parts of a machine or system work together, or the process of making parts of a machine or system work together
C1 [ C ] a business organization:
C1 [ C ] an activity that is planned to achieve something:
More examples
- The rescue operation has been complicated by bad weather.
- We need to look at the logistics of the whole aid operation.
- They mounted a salvage operation after the fire.
- Starting your own business can be a risky operation.
- They're winding down their operations abroad because they're losing money.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Machines - Functioning
- asthmatically
- commission
- faulty
- fire sth up
- function as sth/sb
- functionally
- operational
- operative
- order
- pack
- pack up
- peg
- perform
- play up
- right
- roll
- start
- start (sth) up
- torpor
- work
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
operation noun (MEDICAL PROCESS)
B1 [ C ] UK informal op an occasion when a doctor cuts a body for medical reasons in order to repair, remove, or replace an unhealthy or damaged part:
More examples
- The hospital has a two-year waiting list for minor operations.
- The child's parents or guardians must give their consent before she has the operation.
- After the operation the wound became infected.
- The operation involves putting a small tube into your heart.
- The operation must be carried out under sterile conditions.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Medical treatment: surgery
- ablate
- adrenalectomy
- anaesthesiology
- anastomose
- anesthesiology
- circumcise
- collagen
- eviscerate
- facelift
- frontal lobotomy
- implant
- keyhole surgery
- laminectomy
- laparoscopic
- laparoscopy
- laparotomy
- ligation
- nose job
- pump out sth
- transplant
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operation noun (MATHEMATICS)
[ C ] specialized mathematics a mathematical process, such as addition, in which one set of numbers is produced from another
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Calculations & calculating
- aggregate
- algorithm
- amount
- amount to sth
- average
- come to sth
- commutative
- computational
- compute
- equate
- figure
- get/have your sums right/wrong idiom
- grand total
- guesstimate
- instantaneous velocity
- miscalculate
- projected
- put
- put sth at sth
- result
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