op
op — noun
1. an operation on a person's body, mentioned in a short everyday way rather than w
an operation on a person's body, mentioned in a short everyday way rather than with the full medical word.
Marcus is in hospital for a knee op tomorrow morning.
have an op; body-part + op
The surgeon said the heart op could take four hours.
medical collocation: heart op
After her eye op, Nina had to rest at home.
after + op for recovery period
Dad needs a small op on his hand next month.
need an op + on + body part
- have an op
- heart op
- knee op
- eye op
- after the op
Grammar Patterns
have an op
need an op
after the op
Usage Note
Most common in speech and informal writing such as messages or newspaper headlines. Doctors speaking to patients may use the full word 'operation' instead when they want to sound clearer or more formal.
Common Mistakes
2. in an online discussion, the person who wrote the first post and started the thr
in an online discussion, the person who wrote the first post and started the thread.
Several users thanked the OP for sharing the bus timetable.
thank the OP for + noun/-ing
The OP later added photos of the broken bridge.
the OP + later added ...
Ask the OP whether the riverside flat still allows pets.
ask the OP whether ...
In the comments, people told the OP to call the bank.
tell the OP to + verb
- the OP said
- ask the OP
- thank the OP
- tell the OP to
- original poster
the full form behind the abbreviation
- thread starter
plain descriptive alternative on forums
- poster
broader word that can mean any person who writes in a thread
Grammar Patterns
the OP said
ask the OP
the OP + verb
Usage Note
Used mainly on forums, Reddit-style threads, and comment sections. It usually appears with the article 'the', because readers are pointing to one specific person inside that discussion.
Common Mistakes
3. a chance to do something useful, exciting, or helpful, expressed with a short cl
a chance to do something useful, exciting, or helpful, expressed with a short clipped form of 'opportunity'.
Internship week gave Mei an op to work with real designers.
an op to + verb
The Seoul trade fair is a great op for our team to meet clients.
a great op for + noun + to-infinitive
Jordan missed an op to ask the singer one last question.
miss an op
The fair offers local artists an op to sell their work.
offer someone an op
- an op to
- a great op
- miss an op
- offer an op
- opportunity
the full standard word; safer in formal writing
- chance
more general and much more common in everyday English
- opening
often suggests a useful moment that may disappear soon
- obstacle
something that prevents action instead of making it possible
Grammar Patterns
an op to + verb
a great op for + noun
miss an op
Usage Note
Commonest in speech, business chat, and quick notes. Distinguish from abbreviation sense 3: this noun sense behaves like a normal countable word inside the sentence, while abbreviation sense 3 is mainly a written shorthand label.
Common Mistakes
4. the label 'Op.' placed before a number to show where a piece belongs in a compos
the label 'Op.' placed before a number to show where a piece belongs in a composer's numbered list of works.
On the concert poster, Beethoven's sonata appears as Op. 27 No. 2.
Op. + number + No. + number
The score labels the quartet as Op. 18 No. 4.
score labels ... as Op. + number
Sara's thesis compares Chopin's Op. 9 nocturnes with his later works.
composer's Op. + number + work type
The concert opens with Mendelssohn's String Symphony, Op. 12.
title + Op. + number in programme style
- Op. 27
- Op. 18 No. 4
- marked Op.
- composer's Op. number
- opus
the full Latin-based term that 'Op.' shortens
- work number
an explanatory phrase, not the standard printed label
Grammar Patterns
Op. + number
Op. + number + No. + number
Usage Note
Seen mostly in printed titles, concert programmes, catalogues, and music study. Distinguish from abbreviation sense 4: this noun-like use is the actual numbering label attached to a work, while abbreviation sense 4 names the shortened written form itself.
Common Mistakes
op — abbreviation
1. a short written form used in labels or notes for words such as 'operation', 'ope
a short written form used in labels or notes for words such as 'operation', 'operative', or 'operator', with the exact meaning decided by the context.
The TV schedule lists Ben as the camera op tonight.
job label: camera op = camera operator
The factory roster marks Ava as a press op on Line 3.
staff roster shorthand: press op
The security memo lists Lena as an op in the field team.
security memo: op = operative
The workshop chart shows cleaning the filter as one op.
workflow chart: one op = one operation
- camera op
- press op
- drone op
- op step
Grammar Patterns
camera op
machine op
op = operation / operative / operator
Usage Note
Meaning changes from document to document, so learners should expand it from nearby words rather than memorising one single gloss. Distinguish from noun sense 1: this abbreviation sense is mainly a written label, while noun sense 1 is the spoken clipped word for surgery.
Common Mistakes
2. a short written mark meaning that a book or other printed title is no longer bei
a short written mark meaning that a book or other printed title is no longer being produced by the publisher.
The online catalogue marks the 1984 guidebook as op.
marked op in a catalogue entry
Several early poems from Kim's first book remain op and hard to find.
be op + hard to find
The publisher confirmed that Ms Chen's typing textbook is now op.
is now op
The bird guide went op after the second edition sold out.
went op after + event
- marked op
- now op
- went op
- remain op
- out of print
the full standard phrase
- unavailable
broader and weaker; does not always mean printing has ended
- in print
still being produced by the publisher
Grammar Patterns
be op
go op
marked op
Usage Note
Mostly appears in catalogues, stock lists, and book-trade writing. Distinguish from 'unavailable': an unavailable book may return soon, but an op title is no longer being printed at all.
Common Mistakes
3. a quick written shortening of 'opportunity', especially in notes, slides, or bus
a quick written shortening of 'opportunity', especially in notes, slides, or business messages where space is tight.
Her notebook marks each possible sale as a new op.
note-taking shorthand: op = opportunity
The sales slide calls Kaohsiung a strong growth op for tea brands.
business shorthand: growth op
In the email, Jay wrote 'good op' beside the cafe idea.
quoted note style: 'good op'
The meeting notes list two hiring ops for the July intern team.
plural shorthand: ops for opportunities
- growth op
- sales op
- new op
- good op
- opportunity
the full standard form
- chance
a simpler everyday word, but not a written abbreviation
Grammar Patterns
op = opportunity
growth op
sales op
Usage Note
Mostly seen in private shorthand, sales talk, or startup chat, not in careful public writing. Distinguish from noun sense 3: this abbreviation sense often appears as a brief written tag in lists and slides, while noun sense 3 behaves as an ordinary spoken word inside a full sentence.
Common Mistakes
4. the shortened written form of the word 'opus' in catalogues, score titles, and o
the shortened written form of the word 'opus' in catalogues, score titles, and other music references.
The library card file expands op. to opus in full citations.
op. = opus in catalogues
In music class, students learn that Op. and opus mark the same system.
Op. and opus as equivalent forms
For the recital booklet, the editor kept op. in the title as printed.
editorial style keeps printed abbreviation
A footnote in the score explains that op. is short for Latin opus.
footnote explanation of the abbreviation
- op. = opus
- Op. 12
- printed Op.
- catalogue abbreviation
- opus
the full form that the abbreviation represents
Grammar Patterns
op. = opus
Op. + number
Usage Note
Usually appears exactly as printed in titles, catalogues, and notes about classical music works. Distinguish from noun sense 4: this abbreviation sense names the shortened form itself, while noun sense 4 uses the label as part of a work number.
Common Mistakes
5. short for 'observation post', a place where soldiers watch an area and report wh
short for 'observation post', a place where soldiers watch an area and report what they see.
The map marks an old enemy op on the hill above the river.
map label: enemy op
Soldiers reported smoke near the forward op at dawn.
forward op in military report style
The patrol returned to the op before the storm arrived.
return to the op
From the op, the team could watch both roads clearly.
from the op + watch/report
- enemy op
- forward op
- return to the op
- from the op
- observation post
the full standard form
- lookout
broader word for a watching position
Grammar Patterns
enemy op
forward op
return to the op
Usage Note
Seen mainly in maps, military reports, and war histories. The abbreviation refers to the lookout place itself, not to the people standing there.