From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsurgerysur‧ge‧ry /ˈsɜːdʒəri $ ˈsɜːr-/ ●●○ S3 W2 noun (plural surgeries) 1 [uncountable]MH medical treatment in which a surgeon cuts open your body to repair or remove something inside → operationsurgery on She required surgery on her right knee.surgery for He underwent surgery for lung cancer.in surgery She was in surgery for two hours Thursday. → cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery2 [uncountable] especially American EnglishMH the place where operations are done in a hospital SYN operating room American English, theatre British English Dr. Hanson is in surgery.3 [countable] British EnglishMH a place where a doctor or dentist gives treatment SYN office American English4 [uncountable] British EnglishMH a regular period each day when people can see a doctor or dentist SYN office hours American English Surgery is from 9 am to 1 pm on weekdays.5 [countable] British EnglishPGP a special period of time when people can see a Member of Parliament to discuss problemsCOLLOCATIONSverbshave surgeryLeslie had surgery on her toe last year.undergo surgery formal (=have surgery)He underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his chest.There are risks if you choose to undergo surgery.do/carry out surgery (also perform surgery formal)A San Antonio doctor has volunteered to perform the surgery at no cost.need surgery (also require surgery formal)He is likely to need surgery in the near future.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + surgerysuccessfulThe surgery was successful and he’s recovering well.major/minor surgeryHe will require major surgery to remove the lump.The president will undergo minor surgery today to remove a small growth from his finger.heart/knee/brain etc surgeryShe is now fit again after knee surgery.emergency surgery (=done quickly, in an emergency)The teenager underwent emergency surgery after a bullet pierced her lung.cosmetic/plastic surgery (=surgery to improve someone’s appearance)More and more people are choosing to have plastic surgery.laser surgery (=surgery done using a laser)The doctor suggested laser surgery to improve her sight.keyhole surgery (=surgery done through a very small hole in the skin)The operation will be done using keyhole surgery.elective surgery formal (=surgery that is not necessary, but you choose to have)There are often long waiting times for elective surgery.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘make surgery’. For a doctor, say perform surgery or carry out surgery. For the patient, say have surgery or undergo surgery.
Examples from the Corpus
surgery• Six of these died between 10 to 60 days after surgery.• Rodriguez spent most of last year rehabbing his right shoulder after surgery.• He underwent chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor and his right testicle.• She needed emergency surgery after the accident.• He's currently recovering from surgery on his right knee.• patients on the waiting list for heart surgery• Scientists found the new strain in an infant boy after he underwent heart surgery.• heart surgery• He started the majority of games in the final two months of the season as Clyde Drexler recovered from knee surgery.• an injury requiring major surgery• She'd been in the surgery exactly two minutes.• The doctor performing the surgery on Shutt is called Denise Potter, in an ode to the inspiration.• Before undergoing surgery, patients should discuss the various options with their doctor.• Last year, she underwent surgery for breast cancer.in surgery• Dr. Bremner is in surgery right now.Origin surgery (1300-1400) Old French cirurgie, from Latin, from Greek cheirourgia, from cheirourgos “working with the hand”, from cheir “hand” + ergon “work” 