1. (n.)operation an act or instance, process, or manner of functioning or operating.
2. operation the state of beingoperative (usu. prec. by in or into): a rule no longer in operation.
3. operation the power to act; efficacy, influence, or force.
4. operation the exertion of force, power, or influence; agency.
5. operation a process of a practical or mechanical nature.
6. operation a business transaction, esp. one of a speculative nature; deal.
7. operation a business, esp. one run on a largescale.
8. operation a procedure aimed at restoring or improving the health of a patient, as by correcting a malformation, removing diseased parts, implanting new parts, etc.
9. operation a mathematical process, as addition, multiplication, or differentiation.
10. operation the action of applying a mathematical process to a quantity or quantities.
11. operation a military campaign, mission, maneuver, or action.
12. operation Usu., operations. the conduct of such a campaign, mission, etc.
13. operation operations, a headquarters, office, etc., from which such activity is conducted.
2. (noun)operation a business especially one run on a largescale "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)operation a planned activity involving many peopleperforming 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)operation (computer science) dataprocessing 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)operation, military operation activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign) "it was a joint operation of the navy and air force"
6. (noun)operation, surgery, surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process a medicalprocedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repairdamage or arrestdisease in a livingbody "they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available"; "he died while undergoing surgery"
7. (noun)operation, procedure a process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved in a particularform of work "the operations in building a house"; "certain machine tool operations"
8. (noun)operation, functioning, performance process or manner of functioning or operating "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)process, cognitive process, mental process, operation, cognitive operation (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents "the process of thinking"; "the cognitive operation of remembering"
10. (noun)mathematical process, mathematical operation, operation (mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods "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)operation the activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.) "her smooth operation of the vehicle gave us a surprisingly comfortable ride"
1. (noun)operation the process of operating on sb's body a routine operation on her foot; When are you having your operation?
2. operation a planned activity intended to achieve a particularresult a military operation; mining operations in Australia; Our business operations may have an impact on the local community.
3. operation the way sth works or is used Operation of the robot is by remote control.
4. operation in operation working or in use The new system should be in operation by next year.
Definition of 'Operation'
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
1. Operation 1. A militaryaction or the carrying out of a strategic, operational, tactical, service, training, or administrative militarymission. 2. The process of carrying on combat, including movement, supply, attack, defense, and maneuvers needed to gain the objectives of any battle or campaign.
Definitions of Operation 
