Definition

Noun: An organized effort or mission undertaken to save people or animals from a dangerous, harmful, or confined situation.

Usage

This term specifically refers to the coordinated activity itself, involving planning, personnel, and equipment to achieve a rescue. It is often used in contexts involving emergencies, disasters, or military and search-and-rescue scenarios.

Examples

• The international rescue operation for the trapped miners involved teams from three countries.
• After the earthquake, a massive rescue operation was launched to find survivors in the rubble.
• The coast guard conducted a daring rescue operation to save the sailors from the sinking ship.

Advanced Usage

• "To mount/launch a rescue operation": To organize and begin a rescue effort.
  • Authorities are preparing to mount a complex rescue operation for the stranded hikers.
• "A rescue operation is underway": Indicates that a rescue effort is currently in progress.
  • A rescue operation is underway after the building collapse.

Variants and Related Words

• Rescue (n/v): The act of rescuing or being rescued. (e.g., / )
• Search and rescue (SAR) (n): A specific type of operation that combines searching for missing persons with rescuing them.
• Extraction (n): Often used in military or tactical contexts for a rescue operation, especially from hostile territory.

Synonyms

• Relief mission
• Salvage operation (more common for saving property or vessels, but can apply to life-saving)
• Recovery effort (can overlap, though sometimes implies finding remains rather than saving lives)

Related Phrases

• Emergency response: A broader term that can include rescue operations as well as medical aid and firefighting.
• Humanitarian mission: A broad operation to relieve suffering, which may include rescue components.

Noun

1. an operation organized to free from danger or confinement