operation — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The method by which a device performs its function.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   It is dangerous to look at the beam of a laser while it is in operation.

2. The method or practice by which actions are done.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

3. The act or process of operating (verb): agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   operating

   Examples

   the pain and sickness caused by manna are confessedly nothing but the effects of its operations on the stomach and guts.

   Speculative painting, without the assistance of manual operation, can never attain to perfection.

4. A planned undertaking.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   The police ran an operation to get vagrants off the streets.

   The Katrina relief operation was considered botched.

5. A business or organization.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   We run our operation from a storefront.

   They run a multinational produce-supply operation.

6. A surgical procedure.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   She had an operation to remove her appendix.

   More examples (1)

   This done, ſhe performs the very ſame Operation on the other Side of the Cock's Body, and there takes out the other Stone; then ſhe ſtitches up the Wounds, and lets the Fowl go about as at other Times, till the Capon is fatted in a Coup, which is commonly done from Chriſtmas to Candlemas, and after.

7. A procedure for generating a value from one or more other values (the operands).

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   functiontransformation

   Examples

   The number of operands associated with an operation is called its arity; an operation of arity 2 is called a binary operation.

8. A procedure for generating a value from one or more other values (the operands). A function which maps zero or more (but typically two) operands to a single output value.

   Usage

   • Countable

9. A military campaign (e.g. Operation Desert Storm).

   Usage

   • Countable

10. Effect produced; influence.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Obsolete

    Examples

    The bards […] had great operation on the vulgar.

Noun

1. the state of being in effect or being operative

   Broader terms

   actionactivityactiveness

   Examples

   that rule is no longer in operation

2. a business especially one run on a large scale

   Broader terms

   business activitycommercial activity

   Examples

   a large-scale farming operation

   a multinational operation

   More examples (2)

   they paid taxes on every stage of the operation

   they had to consolidate their operations

3. a planned activity involving many people performing various actions

   Broader terms

   activity

   Examples

   they organized a rescue operation

   the biggest police operation in French history

   More examples (2)

   running a restaurant is quite an operation

   consolidate the companies various operations

4. (computer science) data processing in which the result is completely specified by a rule (especially the processing that results from a single instruction)

   Broader terms

   data processing

   Examples

   it can perform millions of operations per second

5. activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign)

   Synonyms

   military operation

   Broader terms

   activity

   Examples

   it was a joint operation of the navy and air force

6. a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body

   Synonyms

   surgerysurgical operationsurgical proceduresurgical process

   Broader terms

   medical procedure

   Examples

   they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available

   he died while undergoing surgery

7. a process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved in a particular form of work

   Synonyms

   procedure

   Broader terms

   work

   Examples

   the operations in building a house

   certain machine tool operations

8. process or manner of functioning or operating

   Synonyms

   functioningperformance

   Broader terms

   processphysical process

   Examples

   the power of its engine determines its operation

   the plane's operation in high winds

   More examples (2)

   they compared the cooking performance of each oven

   the jet's performance conformed to high standards

9. (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents

   Synonyms

   processcognitive processmental processcognitive operation

   Broader terms

   cognitionknowledgenoesis

   Examples

   the process of thinking

   the cognitive operation of remembering

10. (mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods

    Synonyms

    mathematical processmathematical operation

    Broader terms

    calculationcomputationcomputing

    Examples

    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. the activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.)

    Broader terms

    activity

    Examples

    her smooth operation of the vehicle gave us a surprisingly comfortable ride