Definition of "preoperational" []

• Prior to a surgical operation. (adjective)
• In or relating to a Piagetian phase of child development characterized by sparse and logically inadequate mental operations and inability to reason or work with symbols. (adjective)

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• "The Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget called it preoperational because it does not apply adult rules of logic."
• "The Hezbollah outlet was actively involved in recruiting and fund raising for Hezbollah, and providing preoperational surveillance for terror attacks."
• "The FBI had no intelligence indicating preoperational planning by any terror organization."