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operate - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'operate' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Operate [ v. i.]
- To perform a work or labor; to exert power or strengh, physical or mechanical; to act.
- To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially (Med.), to take appropriate effect on the human system.
- To act or produce effect on the mind; to exert moral power or influence.
- 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.
- To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits.
2 . Operate [ v. t.]
- To produce, as an effect; to cause.
- To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work; as, to operate a machine.

Meaning of 'operate' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . operate [ v]
Meaning (1):
- handle and cause to function
Example in sentence:
  • control the lever;
  • do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol
Meaning (2):
- perform as expected when applied
Example in sentence:
  • Does this old car still run well?;
  • The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in;
  • This old radio doesn't work anymore
Meaning (3):
- keep engaged
Example in sentence:
  • engaged the gears
Meaning (4):
- direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
Example in sentence:
  • She is running a relief operation in the Sudan
Meaning (5):
- perform surgery on
Example in sentence:
  • The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life

Nearby Words:

ope opeidoscope opelet open open-air open-eyed open-handed open-headed open-hearted open-mouthed

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