Jump to content

operate

From Wiktionary
operate is one of the 1000 most common headwords.
open - operate - opportunity

Pronunciation

[change]

Verb

[change]

Plain form
operate

Third-person singular
operates

Past tense
operated

Past participle
operated

Present participle
operating

Operate is on the Academic Vocabulary List.
  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

[change]
[change]