Surgical

Definition

Surgical refers to anything related to or used in surgery.

Parts of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsɜrdʒɪkəl/
Respelling: SUR-ji-kuhl (with "SUR" as in "fur," "ji" as in "gin," and "kuhl" as in "cool")

British English

IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːdʒɪkəl/
Respelling: SUR-ji-kuhl (similar to American English, with "SUR" as in "fur," "ji" like in "gin," and "kuhl" as in "cool")

In both dialects, "surgical" is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable, "SUR." The pronunciation is consistent across both American and British English, with the word ending in "kuhl," indicating the field related to surgery.

Etymology

The term "surgical" is derived from the word "surgery," which originates from the Old French "serurgie," from the Latin "chirurgia," derived from the Greek "kheirourgia" — a combination of "kheir," meaning "hand," and "ergon," meaning "work."

Derivatives

Surgical procedure (noun)
Surgically (adverb)
Surgicalness (noun)
Non-surgical (adjective)
Pre-surgical (adjective)

Synonyms

Operative
Surgical operation
Chirurgical (obsolete)

Antonyms

Non-surgical
Non-operative
Non-invasive

Usage

The term "surgical" is predominantly used in the medical field to denote anything related to or used in surgery. It can also refer to something done with precision or carried out with a definitive result in mind.

Related Terms

Surgery
Surgeon
Operative
Pre-operative
Post-operative

Detailed Definition

Adjective

Related to Surgery: Describing anything pertinent to, used in, or characteristic of surgery.
Example: The surgical instruments were sterilized before the procedure.

Precise or Deliberate: Describing actions or procedures carried out with precision, clarity, and a definite result.
Example: The team made a surgical decision to target the market segment.

Denoting a Surgical Procedure: Describing a procedure involving surgery.
Example: A surgical extraction of the tooth was necessary to prevent further infection.