Lexic.us

Definition of Operate

1. Verb. Direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.. "She is running a relief operation in the Sudan"

2. Verb. Perform as expected when applied. "These cars won't operate "; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"

3. Verb. Handle and cause to function. "Control the lever"

4. Verb. Perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense.

5. Verb. Happen. "What is going on in the minds of the people?"

6. Verb. Keep engaged. "Engaged the gears"

7. Verb. Perform surgery on. "Did he operate his foot? "; "The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life"

Definition of Operate

1. v. i. To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strengh, physical or mechanical; to act.

2. v. t. To produce, as an effect; to cause.

Definition of Operate

1. Verb. To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act. ¹

2. Verb. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially (Med.), to take appropriate effect on the human system. ¹

3. Verb. To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence. ¹

4. Verb. (medicine) 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. ¹

5. Verb. To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits. ¹

6. Verb. To produce, as an effect; to cause. ¹

7. Verb. To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work; as, to operate a machine. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Operate

1. to perform a function [v -ATED, -ATING, -ATES]

Medical Definition of Operate

1. 1. To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strengh, physical or mechanical; to act. 2. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially, to take appropriate effect on the human system. 3. To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence. "The virtues of private persons operate but on a few." (Atterbury) "A plain, convincing reason operates on the mind both of a learned and ignorant hearer as long as they live." (Swift) 4. 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. 5. To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits. Origin: L. Operatus, p.p. Of operari to work, fr. Opus, operis, work, labour; akin to Skr. Apas, and also to G. Uben to exercise, OHG. Uoben, Icel. Fa. Cf. Inure, Manoeuvre, Ure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Operate

operagoers operagoing operagoings operalike operameter operand operanda operands operandum operant

operant behaviour operant conditioning operantly operants operas operate (current term) operate on operated operatee operates

operatic operatic star operatical operatically operatics operating operating(a) operating-room operating-system operating-theatre

Literary usage of Operate

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"Electric interurban trains operate between Tacoma and Seattle on a half-hour ... Automobile stages on regular schedules operate on a dozen paved highways to ..."

2. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1888)
"declaring that the appeal bond filed does not operate as a ... It follows as a matter of course that the writ cannot operate as a supersedeas, ..."

3. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Court of King's Bench: With by Great Britain Court of King's Bench, George Mifflin Wharton (1845)
"GROSE, J. The note or bill, not having been accepted as satisfaction for the debt, could only operate as a collateral security ; and though judgment has ..."

4. Convention by National Electric Light Association Convention, National Independent Meat Packers Association, University of Georgia College of Agriculture, University of Georgia Dept. of Food Science (1906)
"... CO-operate WITH" MANUFACTURERS' ADVERTISING COMMITTEE Mr. Présidant and Members of the National Electric Light Association: The interesting paper ..."

5. Supreme Court Reporter by Robert Desty, United States Supreme Court, West Publishing Company (1918)
"... or did they merely give to the company a right of way or other limited interest in the land on which д to construct and operate a railroad? ..."

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