operateop‧e‧rate /ˈɒpəreɪt $ ˈɑːp-/ ●●● S3 W2 verb 
The Lewis family operated a number of boats on the canal. Clive was experienced in operating the computers. b)[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a machine operates in a particular way, it works in that wayoperate in/at Check that the equipment is operating in a safe manner. The bus is designed to operate in all weather conditions. Most freezers operate at below –18°C.2business/organization a)[intransitive] if a business or organization operates in a particular place or way, it works in that place or wayoperate in/within/from a design company operating from offices in Seattle A playgroup operates on the campus. They were trying to reduce operating costs. b)[transitive] to control a business or organization: Nuns are operating an emergency hospital.3system/process/service [intransitive, transitive] if a system, process, or service operates, or if you operate it, it works: The whole tax system is now operating more efficiently. The new law doesn’t operate in our favour. The car parks operate a pay-as-you-leave system. The bus company operates a Monday to Saturday service.4medical [intransitive] to cut into someone’s body in order to repair or remove a part that is damaged: Doctors had to operate to remove the bullet.operate on the surgeon who operated on Taylor’s knee ► A doctor does not ‘operate’ a part of a person’s body. He or she operates on it: They need to operate on her stomach (NOT operate her stomach).5work [intransitive] to do your job or try to achieve things in a particular way: Most people just can’t operate in noisy crowded conditions. Older children often like to operate independently.6soldiers/police [intransitive] if soldiers or police officers are operating in an area, they are working in that areaoperate in Security patrols now operate in some of the most dangerous parts of the city. enemy submarines operating in the Mediterranean7operate as something to have a particular purpose: The foam operates as a very effective filter. The car’s service manual is designed to operate as a guide for owners.8laws/principles [intransitive] to have an effect on something: the laws of evolution operating on each species
WORD ORIGINoperate
Origin:
1600-1700 Latin past participle of operari ‘to work’, from opus; ➔ OPUSVERB TABLE
operate
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | operate |
| he, she, it | operates | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | operated |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have operated |
| he, she, it | has operated | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had operated |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will operate |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have operated |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am operating |
| he, she, it | is operating | |
| you, we, they | are operating | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was operating |
| you, we, they | were operating | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been operating |
| he, she, it | has been operating | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been operating |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be operating |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been operating |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A team of three men operate the dam.
- Alice operates on her own time schedule.
- Do you know how to operate the air conditioning?
- Don't worry - everyone will be shown how to operate the new machines.
- It can be risky to operate on very old people.
- It took me weeks to learn to operate the VCR.
- Olivetti operates in all the major computer markets in the world.
- Our generator doesn't operate well in cold weather.
- Screenview are a small company operating from a converted barn in a village near Norwich.
- Smith was accused of operating without the knowledge of his commanding officer.
- The company operates fast-food restaurants in over 60 countries.
- The doctor says they'll have to operate straightaway, before the cancer spreads.
- The legislative system operates independently of the President.
- They had operated on him six times before he was a year old.
- They had to operate on my arm because it was broken in two places.
- They passed a cement mixer that was being operated by two men in dusty overalls.
- A hand-held remote control makes the device easy to operate as well.
- As the name implies, the sole proprietorship is owned and operated by a single individual.
- Courtaulds has operated a representative office in Jakarta since early 1991.
- If the unit fails to operate, check your construction.
- In London, Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester, the trade operates in a similar way.
- It is also possible that the semantic and phonetic clues are in fact operated on not sequentially but simultaneously.
- Kaohsiung operates a system whereby employees can offer operational advice regarding improvements to production methods.
- We excluded from our review networks that were operated on a private, for-profit basis.
Longman Language Activatorto do business
if a company does business with another company, it buys things from them or sells things to them: · I hope you'll think about my offer. I'm sure we can do business.do business with: · They do a lot of business with Italian companies.· She's very efficient - the kind of person you want to do business with.do good business (=do a lot of successful business): · They've been doing very good business lately. They'll probably even expand their operations.
if someone is in business they own a company or shop: · In all the twenty years I've been in business this is the worst period I've seen for sales.· The insurance companies are in business to make money, not waste it.set up in business British (=start a company, shop etc): · When I qualified I set up in business as a financial consultant.
to buy goods from another company or person, or sell goods to them: · I deal with farmers, selling them things like cattle feed and insecticides.· They don't buy their office supplies from a store - they only deal with the manufacturers.· We don't deal with the actors directly - we usually have to go through their agents.
to do business buying or selling a particular product: · Companies that deal in oil should prepare themselves for a price drop.· The main commodities he dealt in were rice, and lentils.
if a country or large organization trades with another country or large organization, they buy, sell, or exchange goods with each other: trade with: · The two nations have not traded with each other for over 30 years.trading partner (=a country that regularly does business with another country): · Japan is one of our major trading partners.
if a company or organization operates it takes part in business activities, especially in one country or in one kind of business: · Olivetti operates in all the major computer markets in the world.· Screenview are a small company operating from a converted barn in a village near Norwich.
to control machines, equipment, or vehicles to make a vehicle work: · She's a good driver and controls the car very well.· He was having trouble controlling the heavy truck on the slippery road surface.
formal to control a large or complicated machine or piece of equipment: · Don't worry - everyone will be shown how to operate the new machines.· Do you know how to operate the air conditioning?· They passed a cement mixer that was being operated by two men in dusty overalls.
to make a complicated machine or piece of equipment do what it is meant to do: · Does anyone here know how to work this microwave?· Simon showed me how to work the video player.
if someone is at the controls of a large vehicle or plane, they are driving it, flying it etc: be at the controls of: · The pilot remained at the controls of his plane even when it became clear that a crash was inevitable.· When we were kids we used to sit in a cardboard box, pretending to be at the controls of a spaceship.
to give someone medical treatment to try to make someone better when they are ill or injured, for example by giving them drugs or hospital care: treat somebody for something: · Doctors are treating him for cancer.treat something with something: · Many common infections can be treated with antibiotics.
if a doctor operates on someone, he or she cuts them open in order to remove or repair a part of their body that is damaged: · The doctor says they'll have to operate straightaway, before the cancer spreads.operate on: · It can be risky to operate on very old people.· They had to operate on my arm because it was broken in two places.
WORD SETSaether, nounaftercare, nounambulance, nounamniocentesis, nounampoule, nounamputate, verbanaesthesia, nounanaesthetize, verbanodyne, nounantibiotic, nounantidote, nounantiseptic, nounantiseptic, adjectiveappendectomy, nounartificial respiration, nounastringent, adjectiveastringent, nounbandage, verbbathe, verbbed bath, nounbedpan, nounbiopsy, nounblood bank, nounblood donor, nounblood group, nounbloodletting, nounblood transfusion, nounbrain scan, nounbridge, nouncaesarean, nouncallipers, nouncapsule, nouncardiac, adjectivecast, nouncasualty, nouncatheter, nounCAT scan, nouncauterize, verbcervical smear, nouncesarean, nouncheckup, nounchemotherapy, nounchiropractor, nounclinic, nounclinical, adjectiveclinical thermometer, nouncommit, verbcompress, nounconstruct, verbconsultant, nounconsulting room, nounconvalesce, verbconvalescence, nounconvalescent, nouncosmetic surgery, nouncottage hospital, nouncrown, nouncrown, verbcrutch, nouncurative, adjectivecure, nouncure, verbD and C, nounday room, noundecongestant, noundentistry, noundermatology, noundetox, noundetoxification, noundiagnose, verbdiagnosis, noundiagnostic, adjectivedialysis, noundischarge, verbdischarge, noundispensary, noundoctor, verbdonate, verbdonor, noundress, verbdrug rehabilitation, nounear trumpet, nounECG, nounECT, noun-ectomy, suffixEEG, nounEKG, nounElastoplast, nounelective, adjectiveelectric shock therapy, nounemergency room, nounendoscope, nounenema, nounepidural, nounether, nouneviscerate, verbexam, nounexamination, nounexamine, verbfacelift, nounfilling, nounfirst aid, nounfirst aider, nounfirst aid kit, nounforceps, noungauze, noungeriatrics, noungraft, noungraft, verbgrommet, noungurney, nounhealth care, nounhealth centre, nounhealth service, nounheart-lung machine, nounhospice, nounhospital, nounhypnotherapy, nounhypo, nounhypodermic, nounhypodermic, adjectivehysterectomy, nounice pack, nounimplant, verbimplant, nounincision, nounincubator, nouninduce, verbinfection, nouninfirmary, nouninject, verbinjection, nouninlay, nouninoculate, verbinpatient, nouninseminate, verbinstitutionalize, verbintensive care, nouninternal medicine, nounintravenous, adjectiveinvasive, adjectivein vitro fertilization, nounirrigate, verbisolation, nounisometrics, nounIV, nounIVF, nounkeyhole surgery, nounlamp, nounlaudanum, nounlaughing gas, nounlaxative, nounlife support system, nounlinctus, nounliniment, nounlint, nounlobotomy, nounlumpectomy, nounmammography, nounmanipulate, verbmanipulative, adjectivemassage, nounmassage, verbmastectomy, nounmedical, adjectivemedical, nounmedicine, nounmental hospital, nounmonitor, nounmouth-to-mouth resuscitation, nounMRI, nounNational Health Service, the, negative, adjectivenose job, nounnursing home, nounob/gyn, nounobstetrics, nounoccupational therapy, nounold folks' home, nounold people's home, nounop, nounopen-heart surgery, nounoperable, adjectiveoperate, verboperating room, nounoperating table, nounoperating theatre, nounoperation, nounoperative, adjectiveorthodontics, nounorthopedic, adjectiveorthopedics, nounosteopathy, nounoutpatient, nounoxygen mask, nounoxygen tent, nounpacemaker, nounpack, nounpadded cell, nounpaediatrics, nounpalliative, nounpalpate, verbPap smear, nounpetroleum jelly, nounphial, nounphysiotherapy, nounpill, nounplaster, nounplaster cast, nounplastic surgery, nounpost-mortem, nounpoultice, nounprep, verbprescription, nounpreventive medicine, nounprimary health care, nounprivate medicine, nounprivate patient, nounprobe, nounprophylactic, adjectiveprosthesis, nounquarantine, nounquarantine, verbradiographer, nounradiography, nounradiologist, nounradiology, nounradiotherapy, nounreceive, verbrecovery room, nounrehabilitate, verbreject, verbreset, verbresidential care, nounresidential treatment facility, nounrest home, nounresuscitate, verbrhinoplasty, nounRx, saline, nounsanatorium, nounscalpel, nounscan, nounscreen, verbscreening, nounsection, nounsection, verbsedate, verbset, verbshock treatment, nounsickbay, nounsickroom, nounsilicone implant, nounskin graft, nounsmear, nounsmear test, nounsmelling salts, nounsocialized medicine, nounspatula, nounspecimen, nounsperm bank, nounsplint, nounstaunch, verbstethoscope, nounstitch, nounstomach pump, nounstretcher, nounsurgery, nounsurgical, adjectivesuture, nounswab, nounswab, verbsyringe, nounsyringe, verbtablet, nountape, verbteaching hospital, nountermination, nountheatre, nountherapy, nounthermometer, nountongue depressor, nountourniquet, nountracheotomy, nountranquillize, verbtransfusion, nountransplant, verbtransplant, nountreatment, nountruss, nountuck, nounultrasound, nounvaccinate, verbvasectomy, nounventilator, nounveterinary, adjectivevisiting hours, nounward, nounwell-woman, adjectivewetting solution, nounwheelchair, nounX-ray, nounX-ray, verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They were trying to reduce operating costs.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES They agreed to co-operate with Brazil on a programme to protect the rain forests. If you refuse to co-operate, I’ll kill you. The program was run on a shoestring.
They were trying to reduce operating costs.· A lot of children's toys are battery operated.
They agreed to co-operate with Brazil on a programme to protect the rain forests. If you refuse to co-operate, I’ll kill you. (=the amount it costs to run a business, a machine etc)· The new technology is cheaper and the running costs are lower.
(=the efficiency with which a machine or system works)· The computer can process this information quickly, without any loss of operating efficiency.
(=money that a company spends on running its business)· We must reduce our operating expenses.
(=make flights available for people to use)· The airline operates three flights a day between London and New York.
· The operating instructions have been simplified so that they are easier to follow.
(=to earn less money from something you sell than it costs you to produce it) Two of the mines are running at a loss.
Two of the mines are running at a loss.· Have you been taught to operate the machine properly?
· The machine works using solar power.
(=profit relating to a company’s normal activities)· Both turnover and operating profits were lower.
· Parent volunteers help run the scheme.
The program was run on a shoestring.· The machine is very simple to use.
· They use a system of grades to evaluate each hospital’s performance.· We operate a booking system.
(=exists and is used)· He tried to explain how the planning system operates.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Sharemarket also operates a unit trust discount service for investors who have made up their own minds.· We also operate a loop system for the hard-of-hearing, details of which are available at the Box Office.· It also operates under other names with partners in the United States and 13 foreign countries.· Then it was in the hands of the Foley family, who were also operating Guns mill at Abenhall.· Since we also operate the arena, we did make money in combination with the arena.· Colwyn Bay also operate their own inclusive package holiday.· They would also operate an elevator, a steamboat service, restaurants, kiosks, and playgrounds.
· At least six groups are operating in and around south-east London alone.· All its laws operate in and through everything, too.· Such unmeasured selectivity processes are operating in most social research.· Emotional centre purified allows higher emotional centre to operate in and through us.· Despite all the precautions taken by owners and crews, some vessels operating in or to the Gulf had exceptionally bad luck.· The variable is not the size of the organization or the economic sector it operates in.· Most operate in highly polluting industries: bleaching and dyeing, electroplating and printing circuit boards.· The Leader of the House may not operate in quite that way.
· I was later operated on for a tumour there.· But the right thalamus sometimes gets operated on too, and the results in those patients are quite different.· What we are seeing is the emergence of much more diverse and fluid organisations operating on much smaller local units.· The human brain can be operated on without anesthetics.· I was operated on for the first time when I was two or three weeks old.· In the last few years I have had some back problems, and twice my foot has been operated on.· His left shoulder, which will be operated on in December, was painful, and his confidence shot to pieces.· It is also possible that the semantic and phonetic clues are in fact operated on not sequentially but simultaneously.
NOUN· Most of the actual work of book provision is operated on an area basis - in common with other functions of the library service.· He started thinking about Careta, who he knew was in with this car-theft ring that operated in the area.· Over 90 enquiries were made about classes and the names were passed to teachers operating in these areas.· Typically, managers focus on operating their area of assigned responsibility for efficiency, cost containment, and compliance with delivery schedules.· Until recently voluntary smoking bans had operated in most areas.· Bars of the same kind operated across the downtown area.· To add to our established production areas, we have begun operating in new areas and are negotiating terms for entering others.· Significant advances were made since September 30 in both operating and strategic areas.
· The banks operate the system of payment by cheques and offer a wide range of financial services to their customers.· If you incur bank charges, some banks operate a slightly cheaper tariff for direct debits because they are more easily handled.· Y.-based Community Bank operates 49.· Some large international banks operate separate export service subsidiary companies that make credit available to overseas buyers.· Is credit rationing easier to implement if banks operate as a cartel or if they are highly competitive?· Our principal approach is to examine in detail the records of scores of banks operating in the period.
· It is going to fundamentally alter the rules by which which business operates.· Under the old structure, the business units operated almost like separate companies, each with their own marketing and engineering organization.· Downtown businesses operated sump pumps as the subsoil water level rose.· One aspect of this is the environment within which the new business operates.· Earn outs are impractical if the business will be operated as a division of the purchaser rather than a stand alone subsidiary.· Messaging is central to work-group computing that is changing the way businesses operate.
· Contracts have been arranged for the supply from other parts of BAe to enable the new company to operate autonomously.· The company operates retail stores that sell furniture, bedding, appliances and consumer electronics.· The two companies have nine operating mines and six projects under development.· Managing director Joel Jervis is already negotiating with several companies operating in niche areas such as network support.· The company also operates a pharmacy-benefits business, Medco.· Nothing more is known about the proposal, and by 1859 the company were no longer operating from there.· Right before the scheduled opening, the company that was to operate the facility became bankrupt.
· This will considerably help cash Mow problems for new haulage firms and hauliers still operating at a modest turnover.· Although most firms operate only one plant, many firms own and operate a number of plants.· But eight foreign securities firms are already operating in Seoul.· Although most firms operate only one plant, many firms own and operate a number of plants.· Transport workers are employed in all sectors of the economy, for example in manufacturing firms who operate vehicle fleets.· Business risk is the risk imposed by the business and economic environment in which the firm operates.· A number of smaller firms also operate on the site.· The trend toward giant law firms that operate like corporations gets much of the blame.
· Finally, we can look a little more closely at the main hotel groups operating in the United Kingdom.· Every example of interest group action in this chapter has focused upon a group operating in a democratic political system.· As the executive committee became more and more unwieldy, the officers' group began to operate more freely.· Pupils working in pairs or groups are required to operate the equipment, and to record a commentary on to audio tape.· Improvement teams are temporary groups, operating only until they have completed a project.· Your library or Citizens Advice Bureau will know which groups are operating and may also have lists of private counsellors.· This is the first year the company, a division of National Services Group, has operated in Florida.
· Academics are intertwined in networks which operate at different administrative levels, from the department to the institution itself.· Kansas City: Factories are operating a high levels of capacity.· These transition-metaphors operate at several discursive levels.· Minimum operating levels are stockpiles of crude and refined products held by refiners that are considered adequate to meet average seasonal demand.· Feminists have always been quick to point out the double standards which operate at virtually every level of discourse.· He was not being romantic, operating on a gut level.· Moreover, this skilled incompetence not only operates at the individual level, it permeates the entire organisational culture as well.· Language operates at various levels of abstraction.
· Here the market mechanism appears to operate in a relatively straight forward way, but there are a number of problems.· This is how markets operate the world over, but distrust of Billingsgate's dealing seems to be a problem.· Due to the competitive market in which we operate, this accreditation is very important.· This is a high-risk fund, which leverages its portfolio, buys emerging market debt and generally operates near the edge.· The result is that the market can not operate.· The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant may own the market for operating systems and business software for personal computers.
· Each branch operates a postnatal support network of one-to-one friendship.· AlterNet operates its own network and maintains direct connections to most other component networks of the Internet.· Secondly the lowering of trans-ocean communications tariffs may make global data pipelines nearly as cheap to operate as national networks.· Railway work is governed by complex rules and regulations stemming from the safety and technical requirements of operating the railway network.· It currently receives the federal appropriations for public broadcasting and is prohibited by law from producing programs or operating a network itself.· V., a nonprofit limited liability company, was formed to develop and operate the network.· Orlando, Portland and GreenvilleAsheville fit our broadcasting goal of owning and operating stations with network and geographic diversity.
· He succeeds as chairman Robert J.. Lievense, who will become president and chief operating officer.· Patrick Downs had been chairman and chief executive, and Daniel Downs was president and chief operating officer.· Also, Gergory S.. Daily, 37, previously vice president and chief operating officer, was named president.· Then there's the likely legislative context in which the next president will operate.· He was succeeded by Robert Greber, who had served as president and chief operating officer.· Mr Haan, 45 years old, formerly was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Durametallic.· Mr Carpenter is now president and chief operating officer and spearheaded the restructuring of sunglasses production.
· This could be decomposed further into lower-level diagrams, each holding more detail of how each process operates.· The very same process, operating on water instead of carbon dioxide, makes oxygen and hydrogen gas.· This is probably because the solution process operates differently on covered and bare surfaces.· Doing nothing when you know that the victimisation process is operating is not good enough.· Management in the public sector is a highly political process, operating in the full glare of political debate and public attention.· The development of this process operates in a dual way on the outlook of the imperialists.· Many processes operate beyond the simple pattern matching of the individual characters.· In short, the conversion process must operate with political skill and political will.
· Most builders operating incentive schemes employ a bonus surveyor to measure and calculate the bonus paid to each operative.· Benskin was convicted of operating a Ponzi scheme.· MCofS would be glad to operate the scheme - to the great benefit of everybody.· If class members want to operate a savings scheme for the Festival and Week-end Course, please encourage them.· The company, which was established in 1990 and traded as Magna Marketing, operated a scheme which offered cars bearing advertising.
· His hated intelligence services still operate with horrific efficiency.· Your management company provides management services to your operating companies and charges them for those services.· An hourly service from 10.00 will operate and there will be accommodation for non-Santa passengers.· Denver International must take in at least $ 304 million in revenues next year to cover annual debt service and operating costs.· I can, however, comment on the general principles on which our Patient Transport Service operates.· They started a postal service and operated many other businesses.· First of all, the service operates strict rules concerning recruitment which are not always suited to radio.· The Powered by Verio program enables companies to offer co-branded Web services using Verio's operating platform.
· A training shell is a generalised tutorial system which can operate with a variety of knowledge bases.· We provide the support to get customers up and running and allow their system to operate over the Internet.· How can a market system-which operates globally as well as nationally-be governed to maximise economic and social welfare?· There are now an estimated 30, 000 publicly accessible bulletin board systems operating nationwide.· He said he hoped auctioneers in Cumbria could find a workable system to operate the new regulations.· High slack systems are those organizations operating with an abundance of resources in reasonably stable and minimally competitive environments.· In its simplest form, it may be described as denoting the emotional and attitudinal environment within which a political system operates.· The Metro subway system was operating only a limited schedule of trains, on portions of its system that are underground.
· Cells fitted with diamond windows have been operated at pressures of over one million atmospheres at the Carnegie Institute in Washington.
VERB· The community radio stations remain silent as they wait for laws to be passed to allow them to operate.· Parties based on regional or tribal support would not be allowed to operate.· The second allows women still to operate keyboards.· No hotels, refreshment booths, or other places of business would be allowed to operate within its boundaries.· Such a scheme will allow firms operating on the exchange to hold and transfer shares without the need for share certificates.· The state is passive in the productive system, allowing private actors to operate in a relatively unconstrained manner.
· It plans to sell its franchises in those countries but continue to operate in partnership with Pepsico in Britain.· Time Warner will continue to operate and generate revenues.· It thus looks as if the traditional Paris-Bonn axis will continue to operate.· The two million-member club, which provides 24-hour emergency road and towing service, will continue to operate under the Amoco name.· NetWare will continue to operate with independently assigned names and addresses.· It said Arcade will be headed by Heinsbroek and continue to be operated as a separate division.· A unit only continues to operate so long as it is successful.· Goldie, who learned to speak the Tohono O'odham language, continued to operate the store after Marion died four years later.
· At least 11 companies and government agencies own and operate fiber-optic lines in San Diego today.· For example, few people know the Internet is now completely owned and operated by private enterprise.· It is a form of business organization wherein two or more individuals agree to own and operate a business.· For example, a recent act of Parliament has for the first time enabled citizens to own and operate radio stations.· Mariner said AmHS / Premier / SunHealth owns or operates 650 hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide.· He owns and operates an art gallery in downtown Phoenix that shows only his own work.· E owns and operates seven fossil-fuel plants in Northern and Central California, all powered by natural gas.
WORD FAMILYnounoperationcooperationoperativecooperativeoperatoradjectiveoperationaloperativecooperative ≠ uncooperativeverboperatecooperateadverboperationallycooperatively
1machine a)[transitive] to use and control a machine or equipment: The Lewis family operated a number of boats on the canal. Clive was experienced in operating the computers. b)[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a machine operates in a particular way, it works in that wayoperate in/at Check that the equipment is operating in a safe manner. The bus is designed to operate in all weather conditions. Most freezers operate at below –18°C.2business/organization a)[intransitive] if a business or organization operates in a particular place or way, it works in that place or wayoperate in/within/from a design company operating from offices in Seattle A playgroup operates on the campus. They were trying to reduce operating costs. b)[transitive] to control a business or organization: Nuns are operating an emergency hospital.3system/process/service [intransitive, transitive] if a system, process, or service operates, or if you operate it, it works: The whole tax system is now operating more efficiently. The new law doesn’t operate in our favour. The car parks operate a pay-as-you-leave system. The bus company operates a Monday to Saturday service.4medical [intransitive] to cut into someone’s body in order to repair or remove a part that is damaged: Doctors had to operate to remove the bullet.operate on the surgeon who operated on Taylor’s knee ► A doctor does not ‘operate’ a part of a person’s body. He or she operates on it: They need to operate on her stomach (NOT operate her stomach).5work [intransitive] to do your job or try to achieve things in a particular way: Most people just can’t operate in noisy crowded conditions. Older children often like to operate independently.6soldiers/police [intransitive] if soldiers or police officers are operating in an area, they are working in that areaoperate in Security patrols now operate in some of the most dangerous parts of the city. enemy submarines operating in the Mediterranean7operate as something to have a particular purpose: The foam operates as a very effective filter. The car’s service manual is designed to operate as a guide for owners.8laws/principles [intransitive] to have an effect on something: the laws of evolution operating on each species