operation

1 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <a secret operation which, if it is discovered, the government will deny any knowledge of> Synonyms assignment, brief, business, charge, detail, job, mission, postRelated Words burden, chore, duty, need, obligation, office, requirement, responsibility; errand, labor, work; commitment, pledge, promise; appointment, commission, designation, nomination; compulsion, constraint, restraint

2 a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result <a specific mathematical operation is required in order to get the correct answer> Synonyms course, process, procedure, proceedingRelated Words drill, routine; fashion, form, manner, method, mode, style, system, technique, way; approach, arrangement, blueprint, design, formula, game plan, ground plan, layout, plan, plot, program, project, recipe, scheme, strategy; accomplishment, achievement, attainment, enterprise, performance, undertaking, work; activity, functioning, movement

3 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <given the constant threat of robbery, the operation of a convenience store can be quite stressful> Synonyms administration, care, charge, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, conduct, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervisionRelated Words generalship, leadership, rulership; agency; aegis (also egis), custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward; engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation; coadministration, codirection, comanagement

4 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <a considerable amount of training is required for the operation of these new high-tech weapons systems> Synonyms application, employment, exercise, use, play, usageRelated Words exertion; reuseNear Antonyms disuse, nonuse