surgical

adjective

SaySUR-ji-kuhl/ˈsɝd͡ʒɪkəl/UK/ˈsɜːd͡ʒɪkəl/

2 meanings of surgical

1
adjective
Having to do with surgery, or used by doctors during an operation.
The surgical team prepared the room before the operation began.
She made a full recovery after her surgical treatment.
Similaroperative
2
adjectivefiguratively
Very exact and careful, hitting only what is aimed at.
Like cutting out only the bad spot and leaving everything else untouched.
The pilots made a surgical strike that hit only the bridge.
He gave a surgical answer that solved the problem exactly.
Similarprecise, exact, accurate, pinpoint, clinical
Oppositeclumsy, imprecise, sloppy

Practice

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Origin

It comes from a Greek word meaning "work done by hand," from "hand" plus "work." It reached English through French and Latin.