Menu
Find words

operation

/ˌɑ.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
noun

Operation is a nine-letter word for a method, process, or planned undertaking; it scores 11 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. The method by which a device performs its function.

    “It is dangerous to look at the beam of a laser while it is in operation.”

  2. The method or practice by which actions are done.

  3. The act or process of operating (verb): agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.

  4. A planned undertaking.

    “The police ran an operation to get vagrants off the streets.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English operacioun, from Old French operacion, from Latin operātiō, from the verb operor (“to work”), from opus, operis (“work”). Equivalent to operate + -ion.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
operatingfunctiontransformation

Operation is a familiar word with several connected meanings: how a device works, a method of doing something, the act of operating, or a planned undertaking. Its nine letters make it long for a rack, but its score stays modest because only P is worth more than one point. There are no listed anagrams or one-letter neighbours.

Operation at a glance

  • Operation has nine letters and scores 11 points in Scrabble before board bonuses.
  • Its P is worth three points; each of the other eight tiles is worth one.
  • No anagrams or one-letter neighbours are listed for operation.
  • The word rhymes with 12 words sharing its -ion ending, including action and decision.

What does operation mean?

Operation means the method by which a device performs its function, or the method or practice used to carry out actions. It can also mean the act or process of operating, including the exertion of physical, mechanical, or moral power. A fourth sense is a planned undertaking.

In Scrabble, operation scores 11 points from its letter values: P contributes three, while O, E, R, A, T, I, O, and N contribute one each. That makes the word's value easy to calculate, but its nine tiles can be difficult to fit on a crowded rack. Premium squares change the total.

How does operation fit word games?

Operation is not an anagram source in the available word list: no rearranged word is recorded. The same goes for one-letter neighbours, so changing just one tile does not produce a listed companion. That is a notable contrast with its familiar everyday meaning and substantial length.

The clearest sound connection is the -ion ending. Operation rhymes with information, question, million, education, action, position, production, attention, decision, situation, election, and union. Those twelve examples share the ending sound, not the same meaning or spelling throughout the whole word.

Rhymes with operation

All rhymes

Questions people ask

Is operation a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, operation is a listed word in the word-game sources used for this entry. It means a method, process, or planned undertaking, and its standard tile value is 11 points. Check your game's word list if you need to confirm which dictionary edition your opponents use.
How many points is operation worth in Scrabble?
Operation is worth 11 points before premium squares. The P is the only tile worth more than one point, adding three; the other eight letters add one point each. A letter or word bonus on the board can raise the score.
Does operation have any anagrams?
No anagrams are listed for operation. Its letters, aeinooprt, do not form another recorded word by rearranging all the tiles. The word also has no listed one-letter neighbours, so there is no recorded match made by changing a single tile.

Keep going