American English pronunciation
How to pronounce operate
IPA transcription: ['ɑpɚ,eɪt]
Pronunciation variants: ['ɑpɚ,eɪt]['ɔpɚ,eɪt]
Hear “operate” pronounced
['ɑpɚ,eɪt]
Quality: 0.84
['ɑpɚ,eɪt]
Quality: 0.84
['ɑpɚ,eɪt]
Quality: 0.83
Verb
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perform as expected when applied
“The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in”
“Does this old car still run well?”
“This old radio doesn't work anymore”
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direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
“She is running a relief operation in the Sudan”
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handle and cause to function
“do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol”
“control the lever”
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keep engaged
“engaged the gears”
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perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense
-
happen
“What is going on in the minds of the people?”
-
perform surgery on
“The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life”
Usage examples
- Minamiaiki has one public elementary school operated by the village government.
- Trains were operated using two units semi-permanently coupled, with the driving motors outermost.
- These are operated under the Eurolines brand.
- The Chicago Public Library operates no branches located in the Avondale community area.
- The York Pioneers currently operate Scadding Cabin as a museum.
- International services were to be operated from Granada to London and Odense, Denmark.
- It is owned and operated by Entercom Communications.
- At the Fair the drive wheels operated under the locomotive's own steam power.
- Charter flights were also operated to many destinations throughout Tasmania and mainland Australia.
- It operates eleven multiplexes and cineplexes in the country.