operation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state of being in effect or being operative
    • that rule is no longer in operation
  2. noun a business especially one run on a large scale
    • a large-scale farming operation
    • a multinational operation
    • they paid taxes on every stage of the operation
    • they had to consolidate their operations
  3. noun a planned activity involving many people performing various actions
    • they organized a rescue operation
    • the biggest police operation in French history
    • running a restaurant is quite an operation
    • consolidate the companies various operations
  4. noun (computer science) data processing in which the result is completely specified by a rule (especially the processing that results from a single instruction)
    • it can perform millions of operations per second
  5. noun activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign)
    military operation.
    • it was a joint operation of the navy and air force
  6. noun a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body
    surgical operation; surgical procedure; surgical process; surgery.
    • they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available
    • he died while undergoing surgery
  7. noun a process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved in a particular form of work
    procedure.
    • the operations in building a house
    • certain machine tool operations
  8. noun process or manner of functioning or operating
    performance; functioning.
    • the power of its engine determines its operation
    • the plane's operation in high winds
    • they compared the cooking performance of each oven
    • the jet's performance conformed to high standards
  9. noun (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents
    process; cognitive process; mental process; cognitive operation.
    • the process of thinking
    • the cognitive operation of remembering
  10. noun (mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods
    mathematical operation; mathematical process.
    • the problems at the end of the chapter demonstrated the mathematical processes involved in the derivation
    • they were learning the basic operations of arithmetic
  11. noun the activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.)
    • her smooth operation of the vehicle gave us a surprisingly comfortable ride

WordNet

Op`er*a"tion noun
Etymology
L. operatio: cf. F. opération.
Definitions
  1. The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.
    The pain and sickness caused by manna are the effects of its operation on the stomach. Locke.
    Speculative painting, without the assistance of manual operation, can never attain to perfection. Dryden.
  2. The method of working; mode of action.
  3. That which is operated or accomplished; an effect brought about in accordance with a definite plan; as, military or naval operations.
  4. Effect produced; influence. Obs.
    The bards . . . had great operation on the vulgar. Fuller.
  5. (Math.) Something to be done; some transformation to be made upon quantities, the transformation being indicated either by rules or symbols.
  6. (Surg.) Any methodical action of the hand, or of the hand with instruments, on the human body, to produce a curative or remedial effect, as in amputation, etc.

Webster 1913