: a procedure performed on a living body usually with instruments especially for the repair of damage or defect or the restoration of health
needed an operation to remove his appendix
5
: any of various mathematical or logical processes (such as addition) of deriving one entity from others according to a rule
Multiplication is one mathematical operation.
6
a
: a usually military action, mission, or maneuver including its planning and execution
military operations for a large-scale invasion
b
operations plural: the office on the flight line of an airfield where pilots file clearance for flights and where flying from the field is controlled
c
operations plural: the agency of an organization charged with carrying on the principal planning and operating functions of a headquarters and its subordinate units
7
: a business transaction especially when speculative
continued his operations in cotton futures
8
: a single step performed by a computer in the execution of a program (see programentry 1 sense 6a)
The family runs a small farming operation. The company is a billion-dollar operation.
Recent Examples on the WebThe day of the August raid, diplomatic missions from 17 mostly European countries, including Britain and France, as well as the United Nations, condemned the Israeli operation and gathered at Al Haq’s office in a show of solidarity. Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 The operation took longer than expected and Carrell was removed about 6 p.m. Thursday. Caroline Silva, ajc, 16 Sep. 2022 Complicating the operation further are the heads of state and government leaders — including President Biden — who will begin descending on London as early as Friday, all with their own delegation and security requirements. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2022 As of earlier this month, Texas had paid over $12 million to finance the migrant bussing operation, according to the state's division of emergency management. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022 But some questioned whether the military operation was being executed effectively. Evan Gershkovich, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 The two federal lawsuits filed last week say the pollutants released by the capsize of the Golden Ray and the harm caused by the subsequent salvage operation have damaged the area’s sensitive marine ecosystem – and the plaintiffs’ livelihoods. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The Department of Justice is also seeking $2.3 million in property assets allegedly connected with the operation. Quinn Owen, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2022 Authorities dismantled the operation through Joint Task Force Alpha, which was formed last year in an effort to combat human trafficking. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 13 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English operacion "work, action, procedure performed on a body, functioning," borrowed from Medieval Latin operātiōn-, operātiō, going back to Latin, "application of effort, functioning (of natural forces)," from operārī "to busy oneself, be at work" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at operate