operate on

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ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Verb

operate on - perform surgery on; "The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life"

practice of medicine, medicine - the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; "he studied medicine at Harvard"

desex, desexualise, desexualize, sterilise, sterilize, unsex, fix - make infertile; "in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilites are sterilized"

face-lift, lift - perform cosmetic surgery on someone's face

trephine - operate on with a trephine

care for, treat - provide treatment for; "The doctor treated my broken leg"; "The nurses cared for the bomb victims"; "The patient must be treated right away or she will die"; "Treat the infection with antibiotics"

venesect - practice venesection

References in classic literature ?

Those apprehensions will operate on those persons whether they are actuated by mercenary or friendly motives; and there doubtless are many of both descriptions, who would rely on the secrecy of the President, but who would not confide in that of the Senate, and still less in that of a large popular Assembly.

View in context

If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr.