The meaning of OPERATION is performance of a practical work or of something involving the practical application of principles or processes. How to use operation in a sentence.

OPERATION definition: 1. the fact of operating or being active: 2. the way that parts of a machine or system work…. Learn more.

1. an act or instance, process, or manner of functioning or operating.

Definition of operation noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are 18 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun operation, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

An operation is the process of cutting open someone's body in order to repair, replace, or remove a damaged part.

Oct 9, 2025 · operation (countable and uncountable, plural operations) (uncountable) The method by which a device performs its function.