operation
noun
op·er·a·tion
ˌä-pə-ˈrā-shən 
1
: performance of a practical work or of something involving the practical application of principles or processes
Practice until you can go through the whole operation without hesitation or thinking.
2
a
: an exertion of power or influence
the operation of a drug
b
: the quality or state of being functional or operative
The plant is now in operation.
c
: a method or manner of functioning
a machine of very simple operation
4
: 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 program entry 1 sense 6a)
9
: a usually small business or establishment
ran a struggling operation
Synonyms
Examples of operation in a Sentence
The family runs a small farming operation.
The company is a billion-dollar operation.
Recent Examples on the Web
With growth outside Brazil outpacing its domestic pace by a wide margin, the executive said Farm Rio Global would take a larger share than its Brazilian operations within three to five years.
—
Lily Templeton, WWD, 25 June 2024
There are currently no deep sea mining operations taking place anywhere in the world’s oceans, although pilot and test runs have been conducted to evaluate the ecosystem response of extracting nodules from the ocean floor.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2024
The statewide tenants union established its first local operation in East Hartford just three months ago when tenants of an Orchard Street complex organized as the East Hartford Tenants Union.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2024
In her new role as executive VP and chief content protection officer, Knapp will be responsible for driving expansion of the Association’s content protection operations, specifically the MPA’s online anti piracy organization, Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment.
—Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for operation 
Lily Templeton, WWD, 25 June 2024
There are currently no deep sea mining operations taking place anywhere in the world’s oceans, although pilot and test runs have been conducted to evaluate the ecosystem response of extracting nodules from the ocean floor.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2024
The statewide tenants union established its first local operation in East Hartford just three months ago when tenants of an Orchard Street complex organized as the East Hartford Tenants Union.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2024
In her new role as executive VP and chief content protection officer, Knapp will be responsible for driving expansion of the Association’s content protection operations, specifically the MPA’s online anti piracy organization, Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment.
—Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for operation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'operation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near operation
Cite this Entry
“Operation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operation. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
operation
noun
op·er·a·tion
ˌäp-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act, process, method, or result of operating
does the whole operation without stopping
the operation of a drug
2
: the quality or state of being able to work or function
put a factory into operation
3
: a procedure performed on a living body usually with medical instruments especially to restore health or repair damage or defect
4
: a mathematical or logical process (as addition or multiplication) for getting one mathematical expression from others according to a rule
5
: the process of putting military or naval forces into action
6
: a single step in a computer program
7
: a usually small business or establishment
Medical Definition
operation
noun
op·er·a·tion
ˌäp-ə-ˈrā-shən
: a procedure performed on a living body usually with instruments for the repair of damage or the restoration of health and especially one that involves incision, excision, or suturing
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