mission

mis|sion [ `mıʃn ] noun **

▸ 1 important work

▸ 2 military operation

▸ 3 flight into space

▸ 4 important goal

▸ 5 religious work

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count an important piece of work that a person or group of people has to do for a government or large organization, especially one that involves travel:

The President leaves for a trade mission to the Middle East.

a cultural/fact-finding/rescue mission

a ) mission of mercy or mercy mission an operation to help people who are in trouble or danger

b ) a group of people sent to do an important piece of work:

The UN peacekeeping mission has arrived in the capital.

2. ) count a military operation, especially one by aircraft:

He was shot down during a mission over the Balkans.

3. ) count a flight into space:

the possibility of a manned mission to Mars

4. ) singular a goal that is very important to a person or organization:

mission to do something: It is the international community's mission to end terrorism.

mission in life (=a personal goal): Helping homeless people was Gina's mission in life.

5. ) count or uncount the activity of religious people who go to other countries in order to make people believe in their religion:

the Catholic mission in Papua New Guinea

a ) count the building used for this activity

mission accomplished

used for saying that a piece of work has been done successfully