preoperative

adjective pre·op·er·a·tive \(ˌ)prē-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-ˌrā-\

medical : happening before an operation

Full Definition of PREOPERATIVE

: occurring before a surgical operation <preoperative care>

: having not yet undergone a surgical operation

— pre·op·er·a·tive·ly adverb

See preoperative defined for English-language learners

1904

Medical Dictionary

adjective pre·op·er·a·tive \(ˈ)prē-ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv, -ˈäp-ə-ˌrāt-\

: occurring, performed, or administered before and usually close to a surgical operation <preoperative care> <preoperative medication>

: having not yet undergone a surgical operation <preoperative patients>

—pre·op·er·a·tive·ly adverb

Next Word in the Dictionary: preoperclePrevious Word in the Dictionary: pre–opAll Words Near: preoperative

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