Definitions for operate
ˈɒp əˌreɪtop·er·ate

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. operate, run(verb)

   direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.

   "She is running a relief operation in the Sudan"

2. function, work, operate, go, run(verb)

   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"

3. operate, control(verb)

   handle and cause to function

   "do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol"; "control the lever"

4. manoeuver, maneuver, manoeuvre, operate(verb)

   perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense

5. operate(verb)

   happen

   "What is going on in the minds of the people?"

6. engage, mesh, lock, operate(verb)

   keep engaged

   "engaged the gears"

7. operate on, operate(verb)

   perform surgery on

   "The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. operate(Verb)

   To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

2. operate(Verb)

   To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially (Med.), to take appropriate effect on the human system.

3. operate(Verb)

   To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence.

4. operate(Verb)

   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. operate(Verb)

   To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits.

6. operate(Verb)

   To produce, as an effect; to cause.

7. operate(Verb)

   To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work; as, to operate a machine.

Origin: From operatus, past participle of operari, from opus, operis.

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Operate

   "Operate" is a Dance-punk song written and recorded by Peaches. The song was released as a double limited vinyl A-side with "Shake Yer Dix" to promote the release of her second studio album Fatherfucker.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Operate

   op′ėr-āt, v.i. to work: to exert strength: to produce any effect: to exert moral power: (med.) to take effect upon the human system: (surg.) to perform some unusual act upon the body with the hand or an instrument.—v.t. to effect: to produce by agency.—n. Operam′eter, an instrument for indicating the number of movements made by a part of a machine.—adj. Op′erant, operative.—n. an operator.—n. Operā′tion, art or process of operating, or of being at work: that which is done or carried out: agency: influence: method of working: action or movements: surgical performance.—adj. Op′erātive, having the power of operating or acting: exerting force: producing effects: efficacious.—n. a workman in a manufactory: a labourer.—adv. Op′erātively.—ns. Op′erātiveness; Op′erātor, one who, or that which, operates or produces an effect: (math.) a letter, &c., signifying an operation to be performed. [L. operāri, -ātus—opera, work, closely conn. with opus, operis, work.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'operate' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2552

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'operate' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3144

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'operate' in Verbs Frequency: #225

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of operate in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of operate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of operate in a Sentence

1. Robert Karem:

   We see a difference in how the Saudis operate.

2. Donna Shalala:

   I'm going to operate in Washington in English.

3. Frank Sanchez:

   It is substantially more efficient to operate.

4. Boomerang CEO Mark Patterson:

   If any one thing goes down, we can still operate the system.

5. Paul Beatty:

   If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door.

Images & Illustrations of operate

Popularity rank by frequency of use