Definition

Noun 1. The state or process of being active, functioning, or at work. Refers to the ongoing activities and procedures involved in making something function. 2. (Often plural: operations) The organized set of activities involved in running a business, organization, or system. This encompasses the day-to-day work, processes, and management required for its core function. 3. A planned military or strategic activity. A specific mission or campaign carried out by military forces. 4. (Medical) A surgical procedure. A treatment performed on a patient's body by a surgeon, often involving cutting to repair or remove something.

Usage Examples

• Noun (General Functioning):
  • The factory resumed operations after the power was restored.
  • Smooth operations are essential for customer satisfaction.
• Noun (Business/Organizational Activities):
  • She is the Vice President of Operations.
  • The company is streamlining its manufacturing operations to reduce costs.
• Noun (Military):
  • The general oversaw the covert operation behind enemy lines.
  • A peacekeeping operation was authorized by the United Nations.
• Noun (Medical):
  • The patient is recovering well from her heart operation.
  • The surgeon performed a delicate operation on the spine.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in operation": To be active, functioning, or in effect.
  • The new policy has been in operation since January.
• "To come into operation": To begin to function or to take effect.
  • The law will come into operation next month.
• "Operations center/room": A central place where activities, especially complex ones like military missions or space flights, are monitored and coordinated.
  • Mission control is the operations center for the space agency.

Variants and Related Words

• Operate (verb): To function or to control the functioning of something.
• Operational (adjective): Related to operations; ready for use.
• Operator (noun): A person who operates equipment or manages an operation.
• Covert operation (noun phrase): A secret military or intelligence mission.

Synonyms

• Activities
• Procedures
• Functions
• Workings
• Campaign (military)
• Surgery (medical)

Related Phrases

• Field of operations: The area where an activity, especially a military one, takes place.
  • The general visited the field of operations to assess the situation.
• Operations management: The administration of business practices to create the highest level of efficiency within an organization.
  • He studied operations management in business school.
• Operations research: The application of advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions, often in business or logistics.
  • Operations research was used to optimize the delivery routes.

Noun

1. financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records