ˌɒpəˈɹeɪʃən ˌɑpəˈɹeɪʃən ˈsɝdʒəɹi ˈsɜːdʒəɹi a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available he died while undergoing surgery