surgery

surgery — noun

1. the area of medicine in which a trained doctor opens a living person's or animal

1.名詞B2
釋義

the area of medicine in which a trained doctor opens a living person's or animal's body to fix or remove parts that are damaged or causing disease

例句

Dr. Okafor decided to specialize in surgery after watching his first operation during medical school.

collocation: specialize in surgery

Advances in surgery have made heart operations much safer than thirty years ago.

collocation: advances in surgery

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

study surgery

advances in surgery

specialize in surgery

常見錯誤

❌The doctor did a surgery on my father' (using countable form for the medical field).
✅The doctor performed surgery on my father
💡when referring to the practice or field, 'surgery' is uncountable.

2. a medical procedure in which a doctor cuts into a patient's body to repair, remo

2.名詞B1
釋義

a medical procedure in which a doctor cuts into a patient's body to repair, remove, or replace something inside, typically while the patient is under anaesthetic

例句

Renata will need surgery on her knee after tearing a ligament during a football match.

collocation: need surgery on [body part]

The surgeon said Folake's four-hour surgery went well and she should recover fully.

同義詞
  • operation

    the most common countable alternative in British English

  • procedure

    broader term that can include non-surgical medical interventions

  • surgical intervention

    formal term used in clinical or hospital settings

文法句型

have surgery

need surgery on [body part]

undergo surgery

recover from surgery

用法筆記

In British English, speakers usually say 'an operation' for a single countable procedure, while 'surgery' remains uncountable ('have surgery'). In American English, 'a surgery' is used as a countable noun ('she had a surgery on her knee').

常見錯誤

❌I had a surgery last week' (uncommon in British English).
✅I had surgery last week' or 'I had an operation last week
💡in BrE, 'surgery' is uncountable for a procedure.

3. a room or small building where people visit their doctor or dentist to receive m

3.名詞B1
釋義

a room or small building where people visit their doctor or dentist to receive medical advice or treatment

例句

The doctor's surgery on Mill Road opens at eight and closes at six every weekday.

pattern: [name] surgery + opening hours

Layla called the surgery to book a routine appointment for her young son.

同義詞
  • doctor's office

    the American English equivalent

  • clinic

    can be larger or part of a hospital; used in both BrE and AmE

  • practice

    focuses on the business side of the doctor's work

文法句型

at the surgery

call the surgery

the surgery is open

用法筆記

This sense is primarily British English. In American English, 'doctor's office' or 'clinic' is used instead of 'surgery' for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I went to the surgery room' (confuses doctor's office with operating room).
✅I went to the doctor's surgery
💡include 'doctor's' to clarify you mean the office, not the operating theatre.

4. a set time each week or month during which residents of a constituency can speak

4.名詞C1
釋義

a set time each week or month during which residents of a constituency can speak with their locally elected MP about issues they are facing or to request assistance with government-related matters

例句

Jude went to his MP's surgery to ask about delays in his housing benefit payment.

collocation: MP's surgery

The local MP holds a surgery every Friday morning in a room at town hall.

pattern: hold a surgery [time] [place]

同義詞

文法句型

hold a surgery

attend a surgery

MP's surgery

用法筆記

This sense is specific to British and some Commonwealth political systems. The term draws a metaphor from a doctor seeing patients — the MP is seen as 'treating' constituents' problems. The word is always used with a possessive (MP's surgery, her surgery).

常見錯誤

❌I need surgery with my MP' (confuses this political sense with the medical meaning).
✅I need to attend my MP's surgery
💡the word 'surgery' here means a meeting slot, not a medical procedure.

5. a room inside a hospital that has the special equipment, lighting, and clean con

5.名詞B2
釋義

a room inside a hospital that has the special equipment, lighting, and clean conditions needed for doctors to perform operations on patients

例句

Only a nurse remained in the surgery after the patient had been wheeled to recovery.

surgery = the room itself, not the procedure

Only authorized hospital staff are allowed inside the surgery while an operation is taking place.

同義詞
  • operating theatre

    standard British English term

  • operating room

    standard American English term; also widely understood internationally

  • OR

    abbreviation used in hospital settings in the US

文法句型

in the surgery

the surgery room

take into surgery

用法筆記

In British English, 'operating theatre' is more common than 'surgery' for this sense. 'Surgery room' or 'the surgery' (with definite article) is also used by hospital staff. In American English, 'operating room' (OR) is the standard term.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor called me into his surgery' (ambiguous — could be sense 3 or sense 5).
✅The doctor called me into the operating room' or 'the surgery room
💡in a hospital context, clarify that you mean the room where operations happen, not the outpatient office.