Definitions for operate
ˈɒp əˌreɪtop·er·ate

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. operate, runverb

   direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.

   "She is running a relief operation in the Sudan"

2. function, work, operate, go, runverb

   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, controlverb

   handle and cause to function

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

4. manoeuver, maneuver, manoeuvre, operateverb

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

5. operateverb

   happen

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

6. engage, mesh, lock, operateverb

   keep engaged

   "engaged the gears"

7. operate on, operateverb

   perform surgery on

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. operateverb

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

2. operateverb

   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. operateverb

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

4. operateverb

   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. operateverb

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

6. operateverb

   To produce, as an effect; to cause.

7. operateverb

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

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

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To OPERATEverb

   To act; to have agency; to produce effects.

   Etymology: operor, Latin; operer, French.

   The virtues of private persons operate but on a few; their sphere of action is narrow, and their influence is confined to it. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

   Bodies produce ideas in us, manifestly by impulse, the only way which we can conceive bodies operate in. John Locke.

   It can operate on the guts and stomach, and thereby produce distinct ideas. John Locke.

   A plain convincing reason operates on the mind, both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live. Jonathan Swift.

   Where causes operate freely, with a liberty of indifference to this or the contrary, the effect will be contingent, and the certain knowledge of it belongs only to God. Isaac Watts.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Operate

   "Operate" is a 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.

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.]

Matched Categories

1. • Direct
   • Manipulate

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

How to pronounce operate?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say operate in sign language?

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. Hiro Taylor:

   Any legislation that allows federally regulated financial institutions to enter the cannabis sector will be a huge step forward, for the sector to reach its full potential responsibly, all players in it, including federal and state governments, need to be able to operate with greater transparency, efficiency, and safety regarding payments. A bill that helps to instill those qualities into the sector is very much needed.

2. Robert Karem:

   We see a difference in how the Saudis operate.

3. Ernie Gates:

   To shut down Stars and Stripes on Oct. 1 would defy the expressed will of the House and pre-empt full consideration by The Senate, there's every reason to expect that the federal government will operate under a Continuing Resolution when the current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Secretary Esper and Defense Department should commit to continuing to fund Stars and Stripes under such a scenario -- and when Congress completes the budget process, it should then make Stars and Stripes' funding ironclad.

4. Chief Financial Officer Tom Szlosek:

   I would n’t say that we’re out to cut costs, we’re out to operate our enterprise more efficiently, and in a more economic way.

5. Brian Deese:

   The Fed has the tools that The Fed needs, and we are giving them the space that The Fed needs to operate.

Popularity rank by frequency of use