surgery

sur·gery

noun \ˈsərj-rē, ˈsər-jə-\

plural sur·ger·ies

Definition of SURGERY

1

: a branch of medicine concerned with diseases and conditions requiring or amenable to operative or manual procedures

2

: alterations made as if by surgery <literary surgery>

3

a British : a physician's or dentist's office

b : a room or area where surgery is performed

4

a : the work done by a surgeon

b : operation

Examples of SURGERY

1. He's a specialist in brain surgery.
2. The doctor has recommended surgery.
3. He has recently undergone surgery on his shoulder.
4. a doctor who has performed many surgeries
5. The patient was taken directly to surgery.

Origin of SURGERY

Middle English surgerie, from Anglo-French cirurgerie, surgerie, from Latin chirurgia, from Greek cheirourgia, from cheirourgos surgeon, from cheirourgos doing by hand, from cheir hand + ergon work — more at chir-, work

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with SURGERY

perjury

sur·gery

noun \ˈsərj-(ə-)rē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; sur·ger·ies

Medical Definition of SURGERY

1

: a branch of medicine concerned with diseases and conditions requiring or amenable to operative or manual procedures

2

a British : a physician's or dentist's office b : a room or area where surgery is performed

3

a : the work done by a surgeon b : operation

surgery

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Branch of medicine concerned with treatment by physical means rather than drugs. In addition to operations requiring access to the inside of the body (open surgery), it includes manipulation from outside the body (e.g., setting of a broken bone, skin grafts). Modern surgery began in the mid-19th century with use of anesthetics and antiseptics. Other important advances have included diagnostic imaging, blood typing, intubation to support breathing, intravenous administration of fluids and drugs, heart-lung machines (see artificial heart), endoscopy, and devices that monitor body functions. Specialized instruments used in surgery include scalpels to cut tissue, forceps to hold blood vessels closed or grasp and manipulate structures, clamps to immobilize or crush tissues, gauze sponges to absorb fluids and keep an area dry, retractors to hold incisions open, and curved needles to suture them closed. Pre- and postoperative care is crucial to the success of surgery. See also microsurgery, open-heart surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, transplant.