operate
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (6)operates, operated, operating
- direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.“She is running a relief operation in the Sudan”Synonyms: runMore general directMore specific warm up, block, work, financier
- perform as expected when applied“The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in”“Does this old car still run well?”“This old radio doesn't work anymore”Synonyms: functionworkgorunMore general perform, executeMore specific service, run, roll, double, cut, driveSimilar run, work
- handle and cause to function“do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol”“control the lever”Synonyms: controlMore general manipulateMore specific drive, fly, dial, gate, pedal, synchronize, relay, submarine, turn, treadleSimilar master, control
- perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defenseSynonyms: manoeuvermaneuvermanoeuvreMore general move, goMore specific jockey
- keep engaged“engaged the gears”Synonyms: engagemeshlockMore general move, displaceMore specific throw, ride
- perform surgery on“The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life”Synonyms: operate onMore general treat, care forMore specific sterilize, trephine, venesect, face-lift
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Verb to perform surgery
Verb to operate a machine
- German
- bedienen
- Portuguese
- operar
- Turkish
- işletmek
- Russian
- управля́ть upravljátʹ
- Arabic
- شَغَّلَ šaḡḡala
- Chinese
- 操作 cāozuò
- Greek
- χειρίζομαι cheirízomai
- Vietnamese
- vận hành
- Portuguese (PT)
- operar
- Chinese (Trad.)
- 操作 cāozuò
5 more languages
- Danish
- betjene
- Hebrew
- תפעל tif'el
- Norwegian
- betjene
- Scottish Gaelic
- obraich
- Welsh
- gweithredu
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. operatus, p. p. of operari to work, fr. opus, operis, work, labor; akin to Skr. apas, and also to G. üben to exercise, OHG. uoben, Icel. æfa. Cf. Inure, Maneuver, Ure.
1. To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.
2. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially Medicine, to take appropriate effect on the human system.
3. To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence.
The virtues of private persons operate but on a few.— Francis Atterbury
A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live.— Jonathan Swift
4. Surgery 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.
5. To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits. Brokers' Cant
1. To produce, as an effect; to cause.
The same cause would operate a diminution of the value of stock.— Alexander Hamilton
2. To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work; as, to operate a machine.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54