ˈsərj(ə)rē, ˈsə̄j-, ˈsəij-, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English surgerie, from Old French, contraction of serurgerie, cirurgerie, from serurgie, cirurgie (from Latin chirurgia, from Greek cheirourgia, from cheirourgos working with the hand — from cheir hand + -ourgos working, from -o- + ergon work — + -ia -y) + -erie -ery — more at chir- , work
1. : a branch of medicine that is concerned with diseases and conditions requiring or amenable to operative or manual procedures
orthopedic surgery
new techniques in brain surgery
2. : the treatment of other than human ills or diseases by methods analogous to or as drastic as those of a surgeon
the agonizing surgery of revolution — John Strachey
a superb piece of literary surgery — Norman Cousins
— see tree surgery
3.
a. Britain : a room or office (as in a general practitioner's house) where a doctor sees and treats patients
b. : the room (as in a doctor's or dentist's offices) or the quarters (as in a hospital) where surgery is performed
the patient walked into the doctor's surgery
the patient was anesthetized in surgery
4.
a. : the work done by a surgeon
the operation was a skillful piece of bloodless surgery
b. : operation
he had a surgery at six o'clock