ENGLISH
REFERENCE

surgical

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈsɝdʒɪkəɫ// UK //sˈɜːdʒɪkəl// sur·gi·cal

adj. relating to medical operations. It can also describe something done with great care and exactness, like a doctor's work.

adj. relating to or used in surgery; by extension, characterized by extreme precision and accuracy. Often used metaphorically to describe actions that are highly targeted and efficient.


SIMPLE

The patient needs surgical treatment for the injury.

CONTEXTUAL

The pilot performed the landing with surgical precision despite the heavy fog and high winds.

COMPLEX

The legal team's surgical approach to the cross-examination dismantled the witness's testimony piece by piece, leaving the prosecution's central argument in tatters.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English cirurgical, borrowed from Middle French cirurgical, from Medieval Latin cirurgicālis, ultimately from Ancient Greek χειρουργία (kheirourgía), from χείρ (kheír, “hand”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”). Replaced Old English Old English læċe (“doctor, physician”). By surface analysis, surgery + -ical.

Usage

Typically used before a noun; frequently collocates with 'precision', 'strike', or 'intervention'.

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