activate

Verb (5)activates, activated, activating

1. put in motion or move to act“trigger a reaction”“actuate the circuits”Synonyms: tripactuatetriggerset offspark offsparktrigger offtouch offMore general initiate, pioneerMore specific triggerCauses happen, hap
2. make active or more active“activate an old file”Opposite deactivateMore general change, alterMore specific reactivate
3. make more adsorptive“activate a metal”More general change, alter
4. aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matterSynonyms: aerateMore general change, alter
5. make (substances) radioactiveMore general change, alter