operation

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: op=er=a=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

operation, n. [L. operatio: cf. F. opération.].

•  The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.  [1913 Webster]

  "The pain and sickness caused by manna are the effects of its operation on the stomach."  [1913 Webster]

  "Speculative painting, without the assistance of manual operation, can never attain to perfection."  [1913 Webster]
•  The method of working; mode of action.  [1913 Webster]
•  That which is operated or accomplished; an effect brought about in accordance with a definite plan; as, military or naval operations.  [1913 Webster]
•  Effect produced; influence.  [1913 Webster]

  "The bards . . . had great operation on the vulgar."  [1913 Webster]
•  Something to be done; some transformation to be made upon quantities or mathematical objects, the transformation being indicated either by rules or symbols.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

Calculus of operations. See under Calculus.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

operation, n.
1 a the action or process or method of working or operating. b the state of being active or functioning (not yet in operation). c the scope or range of effectiveness of a thing's activity.
2 an active process; a discharge of a function (the operation of breathing).
3 a piece of work, esp. one in a series (often in pl.: begin operations).
4 an act of surgery performed on a patient.
5 a a strategic movement of troops, ships, etc. for military action. b preceding a code-name (Operation Overlord).
6 a financial transaction.
7 Math. the subjection of a number or quantity or function to a process affecting its value or form, e.g. multiplication, differentiation.

Idiom

operations research = operational research.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L operatio -onis (as OPERATE)

THESAURUS

operation

accomplished fact, accomplishment, achievement, act, acta, acting, action, activism, activity, adventure, affair, amphibious operations, amputation, anastomotic operation, appliance, application, attempt, behavior, bloodless operation, blow, bringing to fruition, business, business deal, campaign, capital operation, combined operations, commercial transaction, commitment, compensating operation, contract, control, corneal transplant, coup, crescent operation, deal, dealings, deed, direction, doing, doings, dry run, duty, effective, effectuation, efficacious, effort, elective operation, emergency operation, employment, end use, endeavor, engagement, enterprise, excision, execution, exercise, exercising, exertion, exploit, exploitation, exploratory operation, fait accompli, feat, fenestration operation, fluid operations, function, functional, functioning, gest, go, hand, handiwork, handling, heart transplant, immediate purpose, in effect, in force, interval operation, job, kidney transplant, logistics, major operation, management, managing, maneuver, maneuvers, manipulation, measure, military operations, minor operation, minor operations, mission, motion, move, movement, movements, negotiation, obligation, occupation, office, operating, operational, operational purpose, operations, operative, organ transplant, organ transplantation, overproduction, overseas operations, overt act, package deal, palliative operation, passage, performance, plan, play, practice, praxis, procedure, proceeding, production, productiveness, program, project, proposition, purpose, radical operation, realization, removal, res gestae, resection, role, running, section, staff work, step, stroke, stunt, surgical intervention, surgical operation, surgical technique, swing, task, the knife, thing, thing done, tour de force, transaction, transplant, turn, ultimate purpose, undertaking, use, using, utilization, venture, war game, war plans, work, working, workings, works

ROGET THESAURUS

operation

Remedy

N remedy, help, cure, redress, medicine, medicament, diagnosis, medical examination, medical treatment, surgery, preventive medicine, clinical thermometer, stethoscope, X-ray machine, anthelmintic, antidote, antifebrile, antipoison, counterpoison, antitoxin, antispasmodic, bracer, faith cure, placebo, helminthagogue, lithagogue, pick-meup, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge, prophylactic, corrective, restorative, sedative, palliative, febrifuge, alterant, alterative, specific, antiseptic, emetic, analgesic, pain-killer, antitussive, antiinflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, carminative, Nepenthe, Mithridate, cure, treatment, regimen, radical cure, perfect cure, certain cure, sovereign remedy, examination, diagnosis, diagnostics, analysis, urinalysis, biopsy, radiology, medicine, physic, Galenicals, simples, drug, pharmaceutical, prescription, potion, draught, dose, pill, bolus, injection, infusion, drip, suppository, electuary, linctus, lincture, medicament, pharmacon, nostrum, receipt, recipe, prescription, catholicon, panacea, elixir, elixir vitae, philosopher's stone, balm, balsam, cordial, theriac, ptisan, agueweed, arnica, benzoin, bitartrate of potash, boneset, calomel, catnip, cinchona, cream of tartar, Epsom salts, feverroot, feverwort, friar's balsam, Indian sage, ipecac, ipecacuanha, jonquil, mercurous chloride, Peruvian bark, quinine, quinquina, sassafras, yarrow, salve, ointment, cerate, oil, lenitive, lotion, cosmetic, plaster, epithem, embrocation, liniment, cataplasm, sinapism, arquebusade, traumatic, vulnerary, pepastic, poultice, collyrium, depilatory, emplastrum, eyewater, vesicant, vesicatory, compress, pledget, bandage, treatment, medical treatment, regimen, dietary, dietetics, vis medicatrix, vis medicatrix naturae, medecine expectante, bloodletting, bleeding, venesection, phlebotomy, cupping, sanguisae, leeches, operation, surgical operation, transfusion, infusion, intravenous infusion, catheter, feeding tube, prevention, preventative medicine, immunization, inoculation, vaccination, vaccine, shot, booster, gamma globulin, pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacopoeia, formulary, acology, Materia Medica, therapeutics, posology, homeopathy, allopathy, heteropathy, osteopathy, hydropathy, cold water cure, dietetics, surgery, chirurgery, chirurgy, healing art, leechcraft, orthopedics, orthopedy, orthopraxy, pediatrics, dentistry, midwifery, obstetrics, gynecology, tocology, sarcology, hospital, infirmary, pesthouse, lazarhouse, lazaretto, lock hospital, maison de sante, ambulance, dispensary, dispensatory, drug store, pharmacy, apothecary, druggist, chemist, Hotel des Invalides, sanatorium, spa, pump room, well, hospice, Red Cross, doctor, physician, surgeon, medical practitioner, general practitioner, specialist, medical attendant, apothecary, druggist, leech, osteopath, osteopathist, optometrist, ophthalmologist, internist, oncologist, gastroenterologist, epidemiologist, public health specialist, dermatologist, podiatrist, witch doctor, shaman, faith healer, quack, exorcist, Aesculapius, Hippocrates, Galen, accoucheur, accoucheuse, midwife, oculist, aurist, operator, nurse, registered nurse, practical nurse, monthly nurse, sister, nurse's aide, candystriper, dresser, bonesetter, pharmaceutist, pharmacist, druggist, chemist, pharmacopolist, remedial, restorative, corrective, palliative, healing, sanatory, sanative, prophylactic, preventative, immunizing, salutiferous, medical, medicinal, therapeutic, chirurgical, epulotic, paregoric, tonic, corroborant, analeptic, balsamic, anodyne, hypnotic, neurotic, narcotic, sedative, lenitive, demulcent, emollient, depuratory, detersive, detergent, abstersive, disinfectant, febrifugal, alterative, traumatic, vulnerary, allopathic, heteropathic, homeopathic, hydropathic, anthelmintic, antifebrile, antiluetic, aperient, chalybeate, deobstruent, depurative, laxative, roborant, dietetic, alimentary, nutritious, nutritive, peptic, alexipharmic, alexiteric, remediable, curable, aux grands maux les grands remedes, Dios que da la llaga da la medicina, para todo hay remedio sino para la muerte, temporis ars medicina fere est, the remedy is worse than the disease, throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it.

Action

N action, performance, doing perpetration, exercise, excitation, movement, operation, evolution, work, labor, praxis, execution, procedure, handicraft, business, agency, deed, act, overt act, stitch, touch, gest transaction, job, doings, dealings, proceeding, measure, step, maneuver, bout, passage, move, stroke, blow, coup, coup de main, coup d'etat, tour de force, feat, exploit, achievement, handiwork, workmanship, manufacture, stroke of policy, actor, doing, acting, in action, in harness, on duty, in operation, in the act, in the midst of, in the thick of, red-handed, in flagrante delicto, while one's hand is in, action is eloquence, actions speak louder than words, actum aiunt ne agas, awake, arise, or be forever fall'n, dii pia facta vident, faire sans dire, fare fac, fronte capillata post est occasio calva, our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts, the great end of life is not knowledge but action, thought is the soul of act, vivre-ce nest pas respirer c'est agir, we live in deeds not years.

Agency

N agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play, interworking, interaction, procurement, causation, instrumentality, influence, action, modus operandi, quickening power, maintaining power, sustaining power, home stroke, operative, efficient, efficacious, practical, effectual, at work, on foot, acting, in operation, in force, in action, in play, in exercise, acted upon, wrought upon, by the agency of through, by means of, I myself must mix with action lest I wither by des.