actuate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ac=tu=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

actuate, v. t. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L. actus act.].

•  To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons.  [1913 Webster]

  "Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion."  [1913 Webster]

  "Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it."  [1913 Webster]
•  To carry out in practice; to perform.  Jer. Taylor.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.

actuate, a. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.].

 Put in action; actuated.  South.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

actuate, v.tr.
1 communicate motion to (a machine etc.).
2 cause the operation of (an electrical device etc.).
3 cause (a person) to act.

Derivative

actuation n. actuator n.

Etymology

med.L actuare f. L actus: see ACTUAL

THESAURUS

actuate

animate, arouse, circulate, compel, drive, drive on, energize, excite, force, forward, foster, galvanize, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, impel, incite, mobilize, motivate, move, move to action, nudge, power, promote, propel, provoke, push, put in motion, rouse, set agoing, set going, set in motion, set off, shove, spark, stimulate, stir, thrust, vitalize, whip on

ROGET THESAURUS

actuate

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.