the state of being in effect or being operative; that rule is no longer in 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

[ Syn: mathematical process , mathematical operation ]

the activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.); her smooth operation of the vehicle gave us a surprisingly comfortable ride'

a business especially one run on a large scale; a large-scale farming operation; a multinational operation; they paid taxes on every stage of the operation; they had to consolidate their operations'

a planned activity involving many people performing 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'

(computer science) data processing 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'

activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign); it was a joint operation of the navy and air force

[ Syn: military operation ]

a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body; they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available; he died while undergoing surgery

[ Syn: surgery , surgical operation , surgical procedure , surgical process ]

a process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved in a particular form of work; the operations in building a house; certain machine tool operations

[ Syn: procedure ]

process or manner of functioning or operating; the power of its engine determines its operation; the planes operation in high winds; they compared the cooking performance of each oven; the jets performance conformed to high standards

[ Syn: functioning , performance ]

(psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents; the process of thinking; the cognitive operation of remembering

[ Syn: process , cognitive process , mental process , cognitive operation ]