surgery

noun sur·gery \ˈsərj-rē, ˈsər-jə-\

: medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts ( chiefly US )

: the area in a hospital where surgery is performed

: a place where a doctor or dentist treats people

plural sur·ger·ies

Full Definition of SURGERY

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

: alterations made as if by surgery <literary surgery>

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

b : a room or area where surgery is performed

a : the work done by a surgeon

b : operation

See surgery defined for English-language learners

See surgery defined for kids

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

SURGERY Defined for Kids

surgery

noun sur·gery \ˈsər-jə-rē\

plural sur·ger·ies

Definition of SURGERY for Kids

: medical treatment (as of disease, injury, or physical abnormality) that involves cutting into the body usually to expose internal parts <She had surgery to remove her appendix.>

Medical Dictionary