Word Study
operate
CIDE DICTIONARY
operate, v. i. [L. operatus, p. p. of operari to work, fr. opus, operis, work, labor; akin to Skr. apas, and also to G. Üben to exercise, OHG. uoben, Icel. . Cf. Inure, Maneuver, Ure.].
- To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act. [1913 Webster]
- To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; [1913 Webster]
- To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence. [1913 Webster]"The virtues of private persons operate but on a few." [1913 Webster]"A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live." [1913 Webster]
- To perform some manual act upon a human body in a methodical manner, and usually with instruments, with a view to restore soundness or health, as in amputation, lithotomy, etc. [1913 Webster]
- To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits. [1913 Webster]
operate, v. t.
- To produce, as an effect; to cause. [1913 Webster]"The same cause would operate a diminution of the value of stock." [1913 Webster]
- To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work; as, to operate a machine. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
operate, v.
1 tr. manage, work, control; put or keep in a functional state.
2 intr. be in action; function.
3 intr. produce an effect; exercise influence (the tax operates to our disadvantage).
4 intr. (often foll. by on) a perform a surgical operation. b conduct a military or naval action. c be active in business etc., esp. dealing in stocks and shares.
5 intr. (foll. by on) influence or affect (feelings etc.).
6 tr. bring about; accomplish.
1 tr. manage, work, control; put or keep in a functional state.
2 intr. be in action; function.
3 intr. produce an effect; exercise influence (the tax operates to our disadvantage).
4 intr. (often foll. by on) a perform a surgical operation. b conduct a military or naval action. c be active in business etc., esp. dealing in stocks and shares.
5 intr. (foll. by on) influence or affect (feelings etc.).
6 tr. bring about; accomplish.
Idiom
operating system the basic software that enables the running of a computer program. operating theatre (or room) a room for surgical operations.
Etymology
L operari to work f. opus operis work
THESAURUS
operate
act, angle, be caught short, be effective, be in action, be responsible for, be short, behave, belong, brew, bucket, bucketshop, cabal, carry on, carry out, carry through, chart a course, collude, complot, concoct, cond, conduct, conn, connive, conspire, control, cook up, countermine, counterplot, coxswain, cut, deal with, deposit margin, direct, do with, drive, employ, engineer, exercise, exert, finagle, finesse, frame, frame up, function, go, go long, guide, handle, hatch, hatch a plot, hatch up, have effect, have free play, have play, have the conn, helm, hold on, intrigue, keep, lay a plot, machinate, make, make a killing, make a scoop, make go, make use of, manage, maneuver, manipulate, margin up, militate, miss the market, move, navigate, open up, ordain, overstay the market, percolate, perform, perform on, perk, pilot, play, play the market, plot, plunge, ply, practice, proceed, pyramid, react, rig, run, scalp, scheme, scoop the market, see to, serve, shape a course, speculate, stag, stag the market, steer, take, take a flier, take care of, take effect, tick, trade on margin, use, utilize, venture, wangle, wield, workROGET THESAURUS
operate
Remedy
VB apply a remedy, doctor, dose, physic, nurse, minister to, attend, dress the wounds, plaster, drain, prevent, relieve, palliate, restore, drench with physic, bleed, cup, let blood, manicure, operate, excise, cut out, incise.Action
VB do, perform, execute, achieve, transact, enact, commit, perpetrate, inflict, exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play, employ oneself, ply one's task, officiate, have in hand, labor, be at work, pursue a course, shape one's course, act, operate, take action, take steps, strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand, take in hand, put oneself in motion, put in practice, carry into execution, act upon, be an actor, take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in, participate in, have a hand in, have a finger in the pie, have to do with, be a party to, be a participator in, bear a hand, lend a hand, pull an oar, run in a race, mix oneself up with, be in action, come into operation.Cause
VB be the cause of, originate, give origin to, give rise, to, give occasion to, cause, occasion, sow the seeds of, kindle, suscitate, bring on, bring to bring pass, bring about, produce, create, set up, set afloat, set on foot, found, broach, institute, lay the foundation of, lie at the root of, procure, induce, draw down, open the door to, superinduce, evoke, entail, operate, elicit, provoke, conduce to, contribute, have a hand in the pie, have a finger in the pie, determine, decide, turn the scale, have a common origin, derive its origin.Production
VB produce, perform, operate, do, make, gar, form, construct, fabricate, frame, contrive, manufacture, weave, forge, coin, carve, chisel, build, raise, edify, rear, erect, put together, set up, run up, establish, constitute, compose, organize, institute, achieve, accomplish, flower, bear fruit, fructify, teem, ean, yean, farrow, drop, pup, kitten, kindle, bear, lay, whelp, bring forth, give birth to, lie in, be brought to bed of, evolve, pullulate, usher into the world, make productive, create, beget, get, generate, fecundate, impregnate, procreate, progenerate, propagate, engender, bring into being, call into being, bring into existence, breed, hatch, develop, bring up, induce, superinduce, suscitate, cause, acquire.Agency
VB be in action, operate, work, act, act upon, perform, play, support, sustain, strain, maintain, take effect, quicken, strike, come play, come bring into operation, have play, have free play, bring to bear upon.For further exploring for "operate" in Webster Dictionary Online
