operate
Other forms: operating; operated; operates
You'll want to find a skilled surgeon to operate on your hand. Once your hand is working again, you'll be able to operate your buzz saw with ease.
Operate comes from a Latin root related to opus, "work," and it's a verb that can be used for all kinds of work. Your computer can operate smoothly, the lottery can operate successfully, your school can operate a day care center in some vacant classrooms, and you can operate your vehicle in a safe manner. If you're an unshakable optimist, your friends may say you "operate in a dream world."
Definitions of operate
-
perform as expected when applied
-
Antonyms:
-
malfunction, misfunction
fail to function or function improperly
-
types:
- show 5 types...
- hide 5 types...
-
double
do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions
-
roll
begin operating or running
-
run
be operating, running or functioning
-
cut
function as a cutting instrument
-
serve, service
be used by; as of a utility
-
malfunction, misfunction
-
handle and cause to function“do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol”
-
synonyms:
control
-
types:
- show 24 types...
- hide 24 types...
-
synchronise, synchronize
operate simultaneously
-
dial
operate a dial to select a telephone number
-
turn
alter the functioning or setting of
-
submarine
control a submarine
-
treadle
operate (machinery) by a treadle
-
relay
control or operate by relay
-
gate
control with a valve or other device that functions like a gate
-
pedal
operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument
-
drive
operate or control a vehicle
-
aviate, fly, pilot
operate an airplane
-
coach
drive a coach
-
test drive
test a vehicle by driving it
-
fly blind
fly an airplane solely by relying on instruments
-
fly contact
fly a plane by using visible landmarks or points of reference
-
solo
fly alone, without a co-pilot or passengers
-
test fly
test a plane
-
jet
fly a jet plane
-
glide
fly in or as if in a glider plane
-
hydroplane, seaplane
glide on the water in a hydroplane
-
balloon
ride in a hot-air balloon
-
flat-hat, hedgehop
fly very close to the ground
-
hang glide, soar
fly by means of a hang glider
-
drive
move by being propelled by a force
-
tool
drive
-
type of:
-
manipulate
hold something in one's hands and move it
-
direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
-
synonyms:
run
-
types:
- show 4 types...
- hide 4 types...
-
financier
conduct financial operations, often in an unethical manner
-
work
operate in or through
-
block
run on a block system
-
warm up
run until the normal working temperature is reached
-
type of:
-
direct
be in charge of
-
happen
-
type of:
-
come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place
come to pass
-
come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place
-
keep engaged
-
types:
- show 4 types...
- hide 4 types...
-
flip, switch, throw
cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation
-
ride
keep partially engaged by slightly depressing a pedal with the foot
-
switch on, turn on
cause to operate by flipping a switch
-
cut, switch off, turn off, turn out
cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch
-
perform surgery on“The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life”
-
synonyms:
operate on
-
types:
- show 7 types...
- hide 7 types...
-
desex, desexualise, desexualize, fix, sterilise, sterilize, unsex
make infertile
-
face-lift, lift
perform cosmetic surgery on someone's face
-
trephine
operate on with a trephine
-
venesect
practice venesection
-
alter, castrate, neuter, spay
remove the ovaries of
-
castrate, demasculinise, demasculinize, emasculate
remove the testicles of a male animal
-
vasectomise, vasectomize
remove the vas deferens
-
perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense
Pronunciation
US
/ˌɑpəˈreɪt/
UK
/ˈɒpəreɪt/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘operate'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing operate
Articles on Multinational Organizations
This list covers "Characteristics of Multinational Organizations," "The Red Cross at a Glance," and "The Red Cross Disaster Response."
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up operate for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
