operation
UK: ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən | US: ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃən
n. 1. The act or process of operating or functioning.
n. 2. A planned activity involving many people, especially in business, medicine, or the military.
n. 3. A mathematical or logical process (e.g., addition, subtraction).
The word "operation" derives from the Latin operatio, meaning "a working, operation," from operari ("to work"). The root oper- (work) is preserved in modern English words like "operate" and "cooperate." The suffix -ion transforms verbs into nouns, indicating the action or result of the verb. Over time, "operation" expanded from general "working" to specialized contexts like surgery, military missions, and mathematical procedures.
The hospital scheduled her operation for next Tuesday.
The military operation was executed with precision.
Basic math operations include addition and multiplication.
The factory resumed operation after the power outage.
The success of the mission depended on flawless teamwork during the operation.