operate

(ŏp'ə-rāt')

v., -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates.

v.intr.

1. To perform a function; work: The motor operates smoothly.
2. To perform surgery.
3. 1. To exert an influence: forces operating on the economy.
   2. To produce a desired or proper effect: a drug that operates quickly.
4. To carry on a military or naval action or campaign.
5. Informal. To conduct business in an irregular or devious manner: drug dealers operating in residential and urban areas.

v.tr.

1. To control the functioning of; run: operate a sewing machine.
2. To conduct the affairs of; manage: operate a business.

[Latin operārī, operāt-, from opera, work.]

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has derivative forms operable ('able to be operated on', especially in medical contexts) and operator.

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verb

1. To perform a function effectively: function, go, run, take, work. See thrive/fail/exist.
2. To control or direct the functioning of: manage, run, use, work. See control/uncontrol.
3. To control the course of (an activity): carry on, conduct, direct, manage, run, steer. See over/under.
4. To react in a specified way: act, behave, function, perform, work. See action/inaction.

v

Definition: function
Antonyms: break down, fail

v. 1. (of an armed force) conduct military activities in a specified area or from a specified base: the mountain bases from which the guerrillas were operating.

2. (of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system): a shortage of workers to operate new machines.

3. (of a machine, process, or system) function in a specified manner: market forces were allowed to operate freely.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

IN BRIEF: To perform surgery on. Also: To handle and cause to function.

The law of gratitude is universal. It is a natural function of the soul. All things upon this earth or in the universe operate and respond to love and praise. — Robert Scheid, from Beyond the Love Game.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

As it relates to an aircraft, it means to fly or use the aircraft, or to cause or permit the aircraft to fly, be used, or be in any place, whether or not the person is present with the aircraft. Operator has a corresponding meaning.

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1. to perform an operation.
2. the subject of an experiment which has undergone a specific surgical procedure.

v

To work on the body with the hands or by means of cutting or other instruments to correct a deformity, remove an anatomic part, or remove pathologic processes and/or tissues.

For a list of words related to operate, see:

• Strategy and Tactics - operate: (vb) exert a force or influence, often by following an irregular course of action

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See words rhyming with "operate."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Operate.

Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - virke, fungere, sætte i gang, betjene, drive, lede, operere
v. tr. - betjene, sætte i gang, drive, lede, operere

idioms:

• operating environment    operativt miljø
• operating room    operationsstue
• operating system    operativsystem, styresystem
• operating table    operationsbord
• operating theatre    operationsstue

Nederlands (Dutch)
opereren, zakendoen, bedienen, te werk gaan, bepaalde gevolgen hebben, functioneren (machine etc.)

Français (French)
v. intr. - opérer, agir, manier
v. tr. - faire marcher, opérer, mettre (qch) en vigueur, gérer, diriger, exploiter (une mine), avoir (un plan de retraite/d'épargne)

idioms:

• operating environment    (Comput) environnement du système d'exploitation
• operating room    (US) salle d'opérations
• operating system    (Comput) système d'exploitation
• operating table    table d'opération
• operating theatre    (GB) salle d'opération

Deutsch (German)
v. - operieren, in Betrieb sein, arbeiten, wirken, bedienen, betreiben, betätigen, herbeiführen

idioms:

• operating environment    Betriebsumgebung
• operating room    (Med.) Operationssaal
• operating system    (Comp.) Betriebssystem
• operating table    (Med.) Operationstisch
• operating theatre    Operationssaal, (Med.) Operationssaal

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - ενεργώ, δρω, λειτουργώ, δουλεύω, εργάζομαι, διευθύνω, κινώ, χειρίζομαι, ισχύω, (οικον.) προβαίνω σε χρηματιστηριακές πράξεις, (ιατρ.) χειρουργώ, κάνω εγχείριση, (στρατ.) πραγματοποιώ στρατηγικούς ελιγμούς, κάνω επιχειρήσεις

idioms:

• operating environment    λειτουργικό περιβάλλον, συνθήκες λειτουργίας
• operating room    χειρουργείο
• operating system    (Η/Υ) λειτουργικό σύστημα
• operating table    (ιατρ.) χειρουργικό τραπέζι
• operating theatre    χειρουργείο

Italiano (Italian)
operare, mettere in marcia

idioms:

• operating system    sistema operativo
• operating table    tavola operatoria
• operating theatre/room    sala operatoria

Português (Portuguese)
v. - operar

idioms:

• operating system    sistema operacional
• operating table    mesa de operação
• operating theatre/room    sala de operação

Русский (Russian)
действовать, управлять, оперировать

idioms:

• operating system    операционная система
• operating table    операционный стол
• operating theatre/room    операционная

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - obrar, actuar, funcionar, operar, ejecutar, realizar, llevar a cabo, producir efecto
v. tr. - manejar, surtir efecto, hacer funcionar, dirigir, gobernar, explotar, producir, efectuar, llevar a cabo, operar, mover

idioms:

• operating environment    ambiente operativo
• operating room    quirófano, sala de operaciones
• operating system    sistema operativo
• operating table    mesa de operaciones
• operating theatre    quirófano, sala de operaciones

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - operera, verka

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
作出, 工作, 运转, 运作, 营业, 营运, 操作, 经营, 开动等, 管理

idioms:

• operating environment    操作环境
• operating room    手术室
• operating system    操作系统
• operating table    手术台
• operating theatre    手术室

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 作出, 工作, 運轉, 運作, 營業, 營運
v. tr. - 操作, 經營, 開動等, 管理

idioms:

• operating environment    操作環境
• operating room    手術室
• operating system    作業系統
• operating table    手術臺
• operating theatre    手術室

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 움직이다, 영향을 끼치다, 수술을 하다
v. tr. - 운전하다, 경영하다, (결과를)가져오다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 作動する, 仕事をする, 活動を開始する, 軍事行動をとる, 作用する, 効果を現わす, 手術を施す, 運転する, 経営する, 起こす, 導く, 決定する, 動く, 手術をする, 運営する

idioms:

• operating theatre/room    手術室

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يعمل, يدير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮ניתח, פעל, השפיע, ביצע (מבצע צבאי), עסק במסחר‬
v. tr. - ‮תפעל, הפעיל, גרם ל-, ביצע‬

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