operate

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɒpəreɪt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑpəreɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: op‧er‧ate

Verb

Plain form operate

Third-person singular operates

Past tense operated

Past participle operated

Present participle operating

1. (transitive) If you operate a machine, you control it.

   Everyone on board is able to operate the ship.

2. (intransitive) If a machine operates, it works.

   Does the device operate independently or does it need to connect to other devices?

3. (transitive & intransitive) If organizations or people operate, they work or do business.

   The business will continue to operate under the same name.

   The school operates a system for selling used textbooks.

   It's really hard to operate with the kids running around.

4. (intransitive) If a doctor operates, he cuts into a client's body to fix it.

Synonyms

• function
• control
• work

Related words

• operation
• operator
• operational
• operationally
• operative