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1. Dictionary

   op·er·ate

   /ˈäpəˌrāt/

   verb

   • 1. (of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system): "a shortage of workers to operate new machines" Similar workmake gorunset offuseutilizeemployhandlecontrolwieldplymanagebe in charge ofdrivesteerguidepilotmanipulatemaneuverexercise
   • ▪ (of a machine, process, or system) function in a specified manner: "market forces were allowed to operate freely" Similar functionworkgorunperformactbe in actionbehavebe in working/running orderbe operativetake effectactbe in effectbe in forcebe in operationstandapplybe appliedrunbe/remain validbe currentfunctionbe efficacioushold goodbe the caseOpposite break downfail
   • ▪ be in effect: "there is a powerful law that operates in politics"
   • ▪ (of a person or organization) manage and run (a business): "many foreign companies operate factories in the U.S" Similar directcontrolmanagerunconductcarry ongovernadministersuperintendhead (up)leadlook aftersuperviseoverseepreside overbe in control/charge of
   • ▪ (of an organization) be managed and run in a specified way: "neither company had operated within the terms of its charter"
   • ▪ (of an armed force) conduct military activities in a specified area or from a specified base: "the mountain bases from which the guerrillas were operating"
   • 2. perform a surgical operation: "surgeons operated on on his jaw yesterday morning" Similar perform surgerycarry out an operationinterveneinformal:put someone under the knife

   Word Origin early 17th century: from Latin operat- ‘done by labor’, from the verb operari, from opus, oper- ‘work’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › operateOperate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › operate

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   Learn the meaning, synonyms, examples, and history of the verb operate, which means to perform a function, produce an effect, or work. See also related words and translations of operate.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishOPERATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of operate as a verb in English, with different senses and usage in various contexts. Find out how to pronounce operate and see translations in other languages.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryOPERATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   Learn the meaning of operate as a verb in different contexts, such as work, medical process, or business. See how to use operate in sentences with examples from various sources.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › operateOperate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › operate

   Definitions of operate. verb. perform as expected when applied. synonyms: function, go, run, work. run. be operating, running or functioning. work. operate in or through. see more. verb. handle and cause to function. “do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol” synonyms: control. control, master.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › operateOPERATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › operate

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   Operate definition: to work, perform, or function, as a machine does. See examples of OPERATE used in a sentence.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › operateOperate - definition of operate by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › operate

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and examples of the verb operate, which can mean to work, control, influence, or perform a surgical procedure. Compare different dictionaries and thesaurus entries for operate and related words.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › operateoperate verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › operate

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and examples of the verb operate in different contexts, such as machines, businesses, systems, health and military. Find synonyms, collocations and word origin of operate.