The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Operate \Op"er*ate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Operated; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Operating.] [L. operatus, p. p. of operari to work,
   fr. opus, operis, work, labor; akin to Skr. apas, and also to
   G. ["u]ben to exercise, OHG. uoben, Icel. [ae]fa. Cf.
   Inure, Maneuver, Ure.]
   1. To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strength,
      physical or mechanical; to act.
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   2. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the
      result designed by nature; especially (Med.), to take
      appropriate effect on the human system.
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   3. To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power
      or influence.
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            The virtues of private persons operate but on a few.
                                                  --Atterbury.
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            A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both
            of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they
            live.                                 --Swift.
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   4. (Surg.) To perform some manual act upon a human body in a
      methodical manner, and usually with instruments, with a
      view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation,
      lithotomy, etc.
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   5. To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to
      speculative profits. [Brokers' Cant]
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