noun
operation
ah-puh-RAY-shun/ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃn/
An organized undertaking directed toward a particular goal.
Rescue teams coordinate their roles and supplies during the operation.
Etymology
The pieces describe an act or process of working. From general ‘action’ or ‘performance,’ operation came to cover purposeful activity, including the carrying out of a planned series of movements.
In context
an American Airlines Regional Jet has collided with a Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport this happened just over an hour ago emergency officials say they're coordinating a search and rescue operation
More examples
- Police launch an operation to recover the stolen cars.
- Moving the entire library requires a carefully planned operation.
- She runs a small catering operation from her home.
Forms
operation · operations
operational adjective — Relating to carrying out organized activities.
Similar words
- mission
- Emphasizes a specific assignment and the goal to accomplish.
- project
- Usually emphasizes planned work with a defined result or endpoint.
- enterprise
- Often emphasizes a business undertaking or an ambitious venture.