operation

Operation is a broad term used to describe a process, action, or series of actions designed to achieve a particular result. It appears across many fields and contexts, including medicine, mathematics, computing, military, and business. The word originates from Latin operatio, from opus meaning work, and has cognates in many languages.

In mathematics and logic, an operation is an act performed on one or more operands to produce a result, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. More abstractly, operations include function composition or logical operations. In computing, operations are the basic tasks a processor or program carries out, often expressed through operators or instructions.

In medicine, an operation typically refers to a surgical procedure performed to diagnose, cure, or alleviate a health condition. Surgeries can range from minor interventions to major operations. They involve preoperative assessment, the procedure itself, and postoperative care, with risks that may include infection, bleeding, or complications related to anesthesia.

In military and governmental contexts, an operation is a planned, coordinated action intended to achieve strategic objectives. This can include combat missions, reconnaissance, peacekeeping, or humanitarian aid, and may involve joint or multinational forces, special operations units, and specific timelines or objectives.

In business and industry, operations denote the ongoing activities required to run an organization, including production, logistics, and service delivery. Operations management focuses on efficiency, quality control, capacity planning, and the seamless coordination of resources to meet demand.