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Glite Dictionary
operatory

operatory

1 8.0
A room in a dental or medical clinic where patients receive treatment
  • noun
  • /ˈɒpərətɔri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : quirófano
  • After arriving at the dental office, she was led to the operatory for her appointment.

Examples

  • Acclimate the child to the operatory, even if they have been there previously.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The dental clinic at the school has a single restorative operatory, a separate radiograph room, and a small combined laboratory, instrument treatment, and dark room.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Dental operatories are now designed or retrofitted to allow easier access, especially for elderly persons and those who use wheelchairs (Weddell et al., 1987).

    Academic text (1990)

  • The dentist carefully explained the procedure while preparing the tools inside the operatory.

  • Inside the operatory, the dental assistant prepared the equipment for a root canal procedure.

Synonyms

operating room
vsoperatory
  • US
46 3.2

A room in a hospital where doctors do surgery

is in clinics or dental offices and covers procedures beyond hospital surgery
OR
vsoperatory
  • Jargon
28 4.0

A hospital room where doctors do surgery

is in clinics or dental offices and covers procedures beyond hospital surgery
operating theater
vsoperatory
  • US
4 3.7

A room in a hospital where doctors do surgery

is in clinics or dental offices and covers procedures beyond hospital surgery

Surface Forms

operatory singular
operatories plural

Morphology

operatory = operate (semi-transparent) = operate + ory

The suffix '-ory' indicates a place related to the action of 'operate', but the specific meaning of a dental or medical room is specialized and not fully predictable.

Etymology

Operatory comes from the same root as operate and operation, from a Latin word meaning 'to work'. So an operatory is simply the room for medical or dental 'work', where doctors or dentists do procedures.