operate

[ op-uh-reyt ]

/ ˈɒp əˌreɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR operate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), op·er·at·ed, op·er·at·ing.

to work, perform, or function, as a machine does: This engine does not operate properly.

to work or use a machine, apparatus, or the like.

to act effectively; produce an effect; exert force or influence (often followed by on or upon): Their propaganda is beginning to operate on the minds of the people.

to perform some process of work or treatment.

Surgery. to perform a surgical procedure.

(of a drug) to produce the effect intended.

Military.

to carry on operations in war.
to give orders and accomplish military acts, as distinguished from doing staff work.

to carry on transactions in securities, or some commodity, especially speculatively or on a large scale.

Informal. to use devious means for one's own gain; insinuate oneself; finagle: a man who knows how to operate with the ladies.

verb (used with object), op·er·at·ed, op·er·at·ing.

to manage or use (a machine, device, etc.): to operate a switchboard.

to put or keep (a factory, industrial system, ranch, etc.) working or in operation: to operate a coal mine.

to bring about, effect, or produce, as by action or the exertion of force or influence.

Origin of operate

1600–10; < Late Latin operātus, past participle of operārī, -āre to work, be efficacious, effect, produce, Latin: to busy oneself, verbal derivative of opera effort, work, akin to opus work; see -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM operate

op·er·at·a·ble, adjective pre·op·er·ate, verb (used without object), pre·op·er·at·ed, pre·op·er·at·ing. re·op·er·ate, verb (used with object), re·op·er·at·ed, re·op·er·at·ing. un·op·er·at·a·ble, adjective

un·op·er·at·ed, adjective well-op·er·at·ed, adjective

Words nearby operate

operagoer, operand, operant, operant conditioning, operant learning, operate, operatic, operating, operating budget, operating income, operating microscope

Example sentences from the Web for operate

But it takes more than just pilots to operate the drone fleet.

Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says |Dave Majumdar |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
"We will continue to operate in Portland," Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend told The Oregonian.

Things Are Going Downhill Fast for Uber |Kyle Chayka |December 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They operate in a realm largely untouched by legislation, unions, and guilds.

Amazon’s Turkers Kick Off the First Crowdsourced Labor Guild |Kevin Zawacki |December 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Crowd labor platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk operate with few rules and little protection for workers.

Amazon’s Turkers Kick Off the First Crowdsourced Labor Guild |Kevin Zawacki |December 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Without the proper equipment to repair and operate the Mohajer-4 it may be more of a photo prop than a piece of weaponry.

ISIS: We Nabbed an Iranian Drone |Jacob Siegel |November 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
How can a system, built upon a stout and impudent denial of self-evident truth--a system of treating men like cattle--operate?

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus |American Anti-Slavery Society
In short, her own wishes should operate very strongly against these regrets.

Extracts from the Diary and Correspondence of the Late Amos Lawrence; with a brief account of some incidents of his life |Amos Lawrence
Most of them operate under what is known as the advance-premium method.

All About Coffee |William H. Ukers
Hold the clutch lever in one hand, while with the other you operate the steering wheel.

Farm Engines and How to Run Them |James H. Stephenson
It is best to begin to operate upon the skin half an hour after it has been flayed.

The Art of Travel |Francis Galton

British Dictionary definitions for operate

operate

/ (ˈɒpəˌreɪt) /

verb

to function or cause to function

(tr) to control the functioning of operate a machine

to manage, direct, run, or pursue (a business, system, etc)

(intr) to perform a surgical operation (upon a person or animal)

(intr) to produce a desired or intended effect

(tr usually foll by on) to treat or process in a particular or specific way

(intr) to conduct military or naval operations

(intr) to deal in securities on a stock exchange

Word Origin for operate

C17: from Latin operāri to work

Medical definitions for operate

operate

[ ŏp′ə-rāt′ ]

v.

To perform surgery.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

operate

verb (used without object), op·er·at·ed, op·er·at·ing.

verb (used with object), op·er·at·ed, op·er·at·ing.

Origin of operate

OTHER WORDS FROM operate

Words nearby operate

Example sentences from the Web for operate

British Dictionary definitions for operate

verb

Word Origin for operate

Medical definitions for operate

v.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

operate

verb (used without object), op·er·at·ed, op·er·at·ing.

verb (used with object), op·er·at·ed, op·er·at·ing.

Origin of operate

OTHER WORDS FROM operate

Words nearby operate

Words related to operate

Example sentences from the Web for operate

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for operate

verb

Word Origin for operate

Medical definitions for operate

v.

British Dictionary definitions for operate