surgical

[sur-ji-kuhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to or involving surgery or surgeons.

2. used in surgery.

3. characterized by extreme precision or incisiveness.

   a surgical air strike against enemy targets.

surgical

/ ˈsɜːdʒɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, involving, or used in surgery

2. (of an action) performed with extreme precision

   a surgical air attack on the missile complex

Other Word Forms

• surgically adverb
• nonsurgical adjective
• nonsurgically adverb
• postsurgical adjective
• presurgical adjective
• prosurgical adjective
• unsurgical adjective
• unsurgically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of surgical¹

First recorded in 1760–70; surg(eon) + -ical

Example Sentences

"Obviously there was an incentive to see as many people as possible because of the per capita payment," says Prof Ian Fentiman, emeritus professor of surgical oncology at King's College London.

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He wanted Vecna to feel “so poised, so considered and surgical, almost. And Pinhead is that. He doesn’t run. Pinhead never runs. He knows that he’s an ultimate power all the time,” Bower said.

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He can’t stop thinking how grateful he is “for all modern medicine—antibiotics, vaccines, surgical technology, all the rest.”

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"He was a noted humanitarian who devoted his services to surgical support for doctors in Pakistan and Gaza over the years," Mary said.

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Yet, amid the hum of monitors and the steady rhythm of the surgical team, a gentle stream of flute music plays through the headphones placed over her ears.

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