operate is one of the 1000 most common headwords .

open - operate - opportunity

Pronunciation [ change ]

• ( UK ) IPA ^{( key )} : /??p?re?t/
• ( US ) IPA ^{( key )} : /??p?re?t/

• Audio (US)

  ( file )

• Hyphenation : op?er?ate

Verb [ change ]

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 ]

• function
• control
• work

Related words [ change ]

• operation
• operator
• operational
• operationally
• operative