verb (used without object),op·er·at·ed,op·er·at·ing.
to work, perform, or function, as a machine does: This engine does not operate properly.
to work or use a machine, apparatus, or the like.
to act effectively; produce an effect; exert force or influence (often followed by on or upon): Their propaganda is beginning to operate on the minds of the people.
to perform some process of work or treatment.
Surgery. to perform a surgical procedure.
(of a drug) to produce the effect intended.
Military.
to carry on operations in war.
to give orders and accomplish military acts, as distinguished from doing staff work.
to carry on transactions in securities, or some commodity, especially speculatively or on a large scale.
Informal. to use devious means for one's own gain; insinuate oneself; finagle: a man who knows how to operate with the ladies.
verb (used with object),op·er·at·ed,op·er·at·ing.
to manage or use (a machine, device, etc.): to operate a switchboard.
to put or keep (a factory, industrial system, ranch, etc.) working or in operation: to operate a coal mine.
to bring about, effect, or produce, as by action or the exertion of force or influence.
Origin of operate
1600–10; <Late Latin operātus, past participle of operārī, -āre to work, be efficacious, effect, produce, Latin: to busy oneself, verbal derivative of opera effort, work, akin to opus work; see -ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM operate
op·er·at·a·ble,adjectivepre·op·er·ate,verb (used without object),pre·op·er·at·ed,pre·op·er·at·ing.re·op·er·ate,verb (used with object),re·op·er·at·ed,re·op·er·at·ing.un·op·er·at·a·ble,adjective
The app will operate on a freemium model, with some of the simpler biological clocks and combined age score available for free, but some of the more sophisticated clocks will require payment to unlock.
What’s your biological age? A new app promises to reveal it—and help you slow the aging process|Jeremy Kahn|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Kriel, 47, owns and operates Elli’s Kosher Kitchen, the only kosher catering company in Dubai.
The Newest Fusion Cuisine: Kosherati|Fiona Zublin|September 16, 2020|Ozy
Overdoses have gone up, while treatment centers are operating at limited capacity and struggling to stay afloat.
Substance abuse makes Covid-19 even more dangerous|Annalisa Merelli|September 16, 2020|Quartz
Society is making it clear that business has to do better, or risk losing its license to operate.
Announcing Fortune Connect, our new membership community|Alan Murray|September 15, 2020|Fortune
He averaged almost 33 points per game on 53 percent shooting, taking full advantage of the abundance of space with which he had to operate.
Everything Should Be On The Table For The Houston Rockets. Even James Harden’s Future.|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 14, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
But it takes more than just pilots to operate the drone fleet.
Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says|Dave Majumdar|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
"We will continue to operate in Portland," Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend told The Oregonian.
Things Are Going Downhill Fast for Uber|Kyle Chayka|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They operate in a realm largely untouched by legislation, unions, and guilds.
Amazon’s Turkers Kick Off the First Crowdsourced Labor Guild|Kevin Zawacki|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Crowd labor platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk operate with few rules and little protection for workers.
Amazon’s Turkers Kick Off the First Crowdsourced Labor Guild|Kevin Zawacki|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Without the proper equipment to repair and operate the Mohajer-4 it may be more of a photo prop than a piece of weaponry.
ISIS: We Nabbed an Iranian Drone|Jacob Siegel|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How can a system, built upon a stout and impudent denial of self-evident truth--a system of treating men like cattle--operate?
The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus|American Anti-Slavery Society
In short, her own wishes should operate very strongly against these regrets.
Extracts from the Diary and Correspondence of the Late Amos Lawrence; with a brief account of some incidents of his life|Amos Lawrence
Most of them operate under what is known as the advance-premium method.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
Hold the clutch lever in one hand, while with the other you operate the steering wheel.
Farm Engines and How to Run Them|James H. Stephenson
It is best to begin to operate upon the skin half an hour after it has been flayed.
The Art of Travel|Francis Galton
British Dictionary definitions for operate
operate
/ (ˈɒpəˌreɪt) /
verb
to function or cause to function
(tr)to control the functioning ofoperate a machine
to manage, direct, run, or pursue (a business, system, etc)
(intr)to perform a surgical operation (upon a person or animal)
(intr)to produce a desired or intended effect
(tr usually foll by on) to treat or process in a particular or specific way