verb
operate
O-puh-rayt
verb
1
To work or run, especially a machine or system.
"She learned to operate the forklift in a single afternoon."
"The factory operates around the clock."
2
To perform surgery on a patient.
"The surgeon operated on his knee for three hours."
3
To run or manage a business or organization.
"The family has operated this restaurant for forty years."
How to Use Operate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something work, run a business, or perform surgery.
Common pairings
operate a machine
operate on a patient
operate a business
Word Forms
operated past tense, operates singular
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Etymology
From Latin operari, "to work or labor" — related to "opus" (a work) and "operation."