The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Actuate \Ac"tu*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Actuated; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Actuating.] [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L.
   actus act.]
   1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action;
      to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more
      commonly used of persons.
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            Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by
            the perpetual motion.                 --Johnson.
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            Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with
            ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow
            minds are the least actuated by it.   --Addison.
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   2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate
      what you command." --Jer. Taylor.
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   Syn: To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Actuate \Ac"tu*ate\, a. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.]
   Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] --South.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

actuate
    v 1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction";
         "actuate the circuits" [syn: trip, actuate, trigger,
         activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off,
         touch off]
    2: give an incentive for action; "This moved me to sacrifice my
       career" [syn: motivate, actuate, propel, move,
       prompt, incite]