operation
noun
uk/ˌɒpərˈeɪʃən/ us [ U ]
the fact of operating or being active:
come into/begin operation We expect the new procedure to come into operation early next year.
be out of/cease operation The company was facing a court order to cease operation.
The construction work will not affect the day-to-day operation of the company.
in operation There are several reactors of this type in operation at the moment.
We hope to be in commercial operation within three months.
The firm is in its third year of operation.
[ C ]
a business organization:
Less profitable business operations will have difficulty finding financial support.
a banking/retail/manufacturing operation
We can capture carbon emissions at power plants, oil refineries, and cement-making operations.
The group's profits fell, despite a good performance from its overseas operations.
operations [ U ]
MANAGEMENT
the activities involved in a company producing goods or delivering services:
Mary handles operations and travel planning.
head/director of operations He is director of operations for a recruitment agency.
The operations department is responsible for ensuring a company operates as efficiently and economically as possible.
[ C ]
an activity which is planned to achieve something:
an operation to do sth The police have launched an operation to prevent the sale of pirated software.
A rescue operation to save the country's largest bank is underway.
a cost-cutting operation.
a military/peacekeeping operation
[ U ]
the way that parts of a machine work together, or the process of making parts of a machine or system work together:
Teamwork is essential to ensure the smooth operation of the department.
Open the machine and check the operation of the locking mechanism.
See also
holding operation
materials, repair, operation