Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense operates, present participle operating, past tense, past participle operated
1. verb
If you operate a business or organization, you work to keep it running properly. If a business or organization operates, it carries out its work.
Until his death in 1986, Greenwood owned and operated an enormous pear orchard. [VERB noun]
...allowing commercial banks to operate in the country. [VERB]
Operating costs jumped from £85.3m to £95m. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: function, work, act, be in business More Synonyms of operate
operation (ɒpəreɪʃən)uncountable noun
Company finance is to provide funds for the everyday operation of the business. [+ of]
Synonyms: surgery, surgical operation, surgical intervention, oper8n [text messaging] More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: business, concern, firm, organization More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: manoeuvre, campaign, movement, exercise More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: undertaking, process, affair, organization More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: effect, force, activity, agency [old-fashioned] More Synonyms of operate
2. verb
The way that something operates is the way that it works or has a particular effect.
Ceiling and wall lights can operate independently. [VERB adverb/preposition]
How do accounting records operate? [VERB adverb/preposition]
The world of work doesn't operate that way. [VERB adverb]
operationuncountable noun
...the operation of the benefit system. [+ of]
Synonyms: surgery, surgical operation, surgical intervention, oper8n [text messaging] More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: business, concern, firm, organization More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: manoeuvre, campaign, movement, exercise More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: undertaking, process, affair, organization More Synonyms of operate
3. verb
When you operate a machine or device, or when it operates, you make it work.
A massive rock fall trapped the men as they operated a tunnelling machine. [VERB noun]
The number of these machines operating around the world has now reached ten million. [VERB]
Synonyms: run, work, use, control More Synonyms of operate
operationuncountable noun
...over 1,000 dials monitoring every aspect of the operation of the aeroplane. [+ of]
Synonyms: surgery, surgical operation, surgical intervention, oper8n [text messaging] More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: business, concern, firm, organization More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: manoeuvre, campaign, movement, exercise More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: undertaking, process, affair, organization More Synonyms of operate
Synonyms: performance, working, running, action More Synonyms of operate
4. verb
When surgeons operateon a patient in a hospital, they cut open a patient's body in order to remove, replace, or repair a diseased or damaged part.
The surgeon who operated on the King released new details of his injuries. [VERB + on]
You examine a patient and then you decide whether or not to operate. [VERB]
Synonyms: perform surgery, carry out surgery, put someone under the knife [informal] More Synonyms of operate
5. verb
If military forces are operatingin a particular region, they are in that place in order to carry out their orders.
Up to ten thousand soldiers are operating in the area. [VERB preposition]
This freed the Austrian army to operate against the French. [VERB preposition]
More Synonyms of operate
operate in British English
(ˈɒpəˌreɪt)
verb
1.
to function or cause to function
2. (transitive)
to control the functioning of
operate a machine
3.
to manage, direct, run, or pursue (a business, system, etc)
4. (intransitive)
to perform a surgical operation (upon a person or animal)
5. (intransitive)
to produce a desired or intended effect
6. (transitive; usually foll byon)
to treat or process in a particular or specific way
7. (intransitive)
to conduct military or naval operations
8. (intransitive)
to deal in securities on a stock exchange
Word origin
C17: from Latin operāri to work
operate in American English
(ˈɑpərˌeɪt)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈoperˌated or ˈoperˌating
1.
to be in action so as to produce an effect; act; function; work
2.
to bring about a desired or appropriate effect; have a certain influence
3.
to carry on strategic military movements
4.
to perform a surgical operation
verb transitive
5. Rare
to bring about as an effect
6.
a.
to put or keep in action; work (a machine, etc.)
b.
to conduct or direct the affairs of (a business, etc.); manage
7. Informal
to perform a surgical operation on
Word origin
< L operatus, pp. of operari, to work < opus (gen. operis): see opus
Examples of 'operate' in a sentence
operate
They changed over, Timson's big hands gripping the wheel, as Simon moved up to operate the radar.
Lunnon-Wood, Mike LET NOT THE DEEP (2002)
He kicked my ankles up the steps, my legs not wanting to operate.
Robert Wilson A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
Lena read the labels on the bottles, looking past the warnings to take the medications with food and not operate heavy machinery.
Karin Slaughter KISSCUT (2002)
In other languages
operate
British English: operate /ˈɒpəˌreɪt/ VERB
business, organization If you operate a business or organization, you work to keep it running properly. If a business or organization operates, it carries out its work.
The family owned and operated the factory.
American English: operate to function
Arabic: يُشَغِّلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: dirigir
Chinese: 操作
Croatian: voditi
Czech: fungovat
Danish: drive
Dutch: beheren
European Spanish: funcionar
Finnish: toimia kone ym.
French: opérer fonctionner
German: funktionieren
Greek: λειτουργώ
Italian: dirigere
Japanese: 操作する
Korean: 작동하다
Norwegian: betjene
Polish: zadziałać
European Portuguese: funcionar
Romanian: a administra
Russian: действовать
Latin American Spanish: funcionar
Swedish: driva köra
Thai: ปฏิบัติ
Turkish: işlemek
Ukrainian: керувати
Vietnamese: vận hành
British English: operate /ˈɒpəˌreɪt/ VERB
surgeon When surgeons operate on a patient, they cut open the patient's body in order to remove, replace, or repair a diseased or damaged part.
You examine a patient and then decide whether or not to operate.
American English: operate to perform surgery
Arabic: يُجرَي عَمَلِيَّةٌ جِرَاحِيَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: operar
Chinese: 手术
Croatian: operirati
Czech: operovat
Danish: operere
Dutch: opereren in ziekenhuis
European Spanish: operar
Finnish: leikata lääketieteellisesti
French: opérer médical
German: operieren
Greek: εγχειρίζω
Italian: operare
Japanese: 手術する
Korean: 수술하다
Norwegian: operere
Polish: zoperować
European Portuguese: operar
Romanian: a opera
Russian: оперировать
Latin American Spanish: operar
Swedish: operera
Thai: ผ่าตัด
Turkish: ameliyat etmek
Ukrainian: оперувати
Vietnamese: mổ
Chinese translation of 'operate'
operate
(ˈɔpəreɪt)
vt
(= work)
[machine, vehicle, system]操作 (cāozuò)
[company, organization]经(經)营(營) (jīngyíng)
vi
(= work)[machine, vehicle, system]工作 (gōngzuò)
⇒ Calculators and computers operate on the same principle.计算器和计算机是按同样的原理工作的。 (Jìsuànqì hé jìsuànjī shì àn tóngyàng de yuánlǐ gōngzuò de.)
[company, organization]运(運)作 (yùnzuò)
⇒ the multinational companies which operate in their country在他们国家做生意的跨国公司 (zài tāmen guójiā zuò shēngyi de kuàguó gōngsī)
[laws, forces]生效 (shēngxiào)
⇒ Laws of the same kind operate in nature.同样的法则也在自然界起作用。 (Tóngyàng de fǎzé yě zài zìránjiè qǐ zuòyòng.)
(Med) 动(動)手术(術) (dòng shǒushù)
⇒ They operated but it was too late.他们动了手术，但已经太迟了。 (Tāmen dòngle shǒushù, dàn yǐjīng tài chí le.)
to operate on sb (Med) 给(給)某人动(動)手术(術) (gěi mǒurén dòng shǒushù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to manage, direct, or run (a business or system)
Until his death he owned and operated a huge company.
Synonyms
manage
Within two years, he was managing the store.
run
His father ran a prosperous business.
direct
She will direct day-to-day operations.
handle
One report said the aircraft would become difficult to handle.
govern
They go to the polls on Friday to choose the people they want to govern their country.
oversee
Get a surveyor to oversee and inspect the various stages of the work.
supervise
One of his jobs was supervising the dining room.
preside over
be in charge of
call the shots in
superintend
During the interval, he superintended a prize draw.
call the tune in
2 (verb)
Definition
to work
allowing commercial businesses to operate in the country
Synonyms
function
The authorities say the prison is now functioning properly.
work
The pump doesn't work and we have no running water.
act
He acted as both ship's surgeon and as chaplain to the men.
be in business
be in action
3 (verb)
Definition
to control the working of (a machine)
The men were trapped as they operated a tunnelling machine.
Synonyms
run
the staff who have kept the bank running
work
I learnt how to work the forklift.
use
Officials used loud-hailers to call for calm.
control
drive
She drove him to the train station.
manoeuvre
We attempted to manoeuvre the canoe closer to him.
4 (verb)
Definition
to work
The machine operates at a pace of just 2 miles per hour.
Synonyms
work
go
My car isn't going very well at the moment.
run
the trail which ran through the beech woods
perform
This car performs well.
function
Opposites
stop
,
fail
,
halt
,
break down
,
stall
,
cut out (informal)
,
falter
,
seize up
,
conk out (informal)
5 (verb)
Definition
to perform a surgical operation (upon a person or animal)
The surgeons had to decide quickly whether or not to operate.
Synonyms
perform surgery
carry out surgery
put someone under the knife (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of act
He acted as both ship's surgeon and as chaplain to the men.
Synonyms
work,
serve,
operate,
function,
be employed,
do business,
have a job,
earn a living
in the sense of direct
Definition
to conduct or control the affairs of
She will direct day-to-day operations.
Synonyms
control,
run,
manage,
lead,
rule,
guide,
handle,
conduct,
advise,
govern,
regulate,
administer,
oversee,
supervise,
dispose,
preside over,
mastermind,
call the shots,
call the tune,
superintend
in the sense of drive
Definition
to transport or be transported in a vehicle
She drove him to the train station.
Synonyms
run,
take,
transport,
bring,
ferry,
convey,
chauffeur,
give a lift to
Synonyms of 'operate'
operate
Explore 'operate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of go
Definition
to operate or function
My car isn't going very well at the moment.
Synonyms
function,
work,
run,
move,
operate,
perform
in the sense of govern
Definition
to direct and control the policy and affairs of (a country or an organization)
They go to the polls on Friday to choose the people they want to govern their country.
Synonyms
rule,
lead,
control,
command,
manage,
direct,
guide,
handle,
conduct,
order,
reign over,
administer,
oversee,
supervise,
be in power over,
call the shots,
call the tune,
hold sway over,
superintend
in the sense of handle
Definition
to hold, move, operate, or touch with the hands
One report said the aircraft would become difficult to handle.
Synonyms
control,
manage,
direct,
operate,
guide,
use,
steer,
manipulate,
manoeuvre,
wield
in the sense of manoeuvre
Definition
to move or do something with dexterity and skill
We attempted to manoeuvre the canoe closer to him.
Synonyms
steer,
direct,
guide,
pilot,
work,
move,
drive,
handle,
negotiate,
jockey,
manipulate,
navigate
in the sense of oversee
Definition
to watch over and direct (someone or something)
Get a surveyor to oversee and inspect the various stages of the work.
Synonyms
supervise,
run,
control,
manage,
direct,
handle,
conduct,
look after,
be responsible for,
administer,
inspect,
preside over,
keep an eye on,
be on duty at,
superintend,
have or be in charge of
in the sense of perform
This car performs well.
Synonyms
function,
go,
work,
run,
operate,
handle,
respond,
behave
in the sense of superintend
Definition
to supervise (a person or an activity)
During the interval, he superintended a prize draw.
Synonyms
supervise,
run,
oversee,
control,
manage,
direct,
handle,
look after,
overlook,
administer,
inspect
in the sense of supervise
Definition
to direct the performance or operation of (an activity or a process)