surgery
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a medical treatment where a doctor cuts open your body to repair or remove a part.
the branch of medicine or a specific procedure involving manual or instrumental intervention to treat pathological conditions.
Simple“He had to undergo minor heart surgery to fix a blocked artery.”
In context“The patient was scheduled for emergency surgery after the imaging revealed significant internal trauma that required immediate intervention.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a place where you go to see a local doctor or dentist.
a primary care facility or clinic where a general practitioner or dentist consults with patients.
Simple“I need to drop by the surgery to pick up my prescription.”
In context“The local surgery has extended its opening hours to accommodate patients who cannot attend appointments during the standard working day.”
UsageIn British English, 'surgery' refers to the building; in American English, 'doctor's office' is preferred.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the specific time when a doctor or professional is available to see people.
the designated period during which a medical professional or other practitioner is available for consultation.
Simple“Morning surgery starts at eight, so you should arrive early to get a spot.”
In context“The senior partner holds surgery every Tuesday afternoon, specifically for patients with chronic conditions requiring long-term management.”
Synonymsoffice hoursconsultation - 04 C1 Advanced
a meeting where people can go to talk to their local politician about problems.
a session where a Member of Parliament or local councillor meets with constituents to discuss grievances or local issues.
Simple“The MP is holding a surgery in the town hall this Saturday.”
In context“Constituents gathered at the library for the MP's weekly surgery, hoping to voice their concerns regarding the proposed housing development.”
Synonymsclinicconstituency meeting - 05 C2 Proficiency
big, difficult changes made to a plan or a business to fix it.
figurative use referring to radical or transformative alterations made to a structure, organisation, or project.
Simple“The company needed major surgery to survive the financial crisis.”
In context“The editor performed radical surgery on the manuscript, cutting entire chapters to ensure the narrative maintained its momentum.”
Synonyms
From Middle English surgerie, from Old French surgerie, from Latin chirurgia, from Ancient Greek χειρουργία (kheirourgía), from χείρ (kheír, “hand”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”). Doublet of chirurgy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.