opérer

to operate, to carry out

verb oh-peh-REH Less Common

Also means

to work, to function

Usage Note

opérer is used in medical contexts (opérer un patient = 'to operate on a patient') and more broadly ('to carry out an operation or manoeuvre'). S'opérer is informal for having surgery. The noun une opération covers both surgery and a military or business operation.

Examples

"Le chirurgien l'a opéré ce matin."

Natural Translation

The surgeon operated on him this morning.

Literal Translation

The surgeon him-has operated this morning

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