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operate
op·er·ate / ˈäpəˌrāt/ • v. 1. [tr.] (of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system): a shortage of workers to operate new machines. ∎ [intr.] (of a machine, process, or system) function in a specified manner: market forces were allowed to operate freely. ∎ [intr.] be in effect: there is a powerful law that operates in politics. ∎ (of a person or organization) manage and run (a business): many foreign companies operate factories in the U.S. ∎ [intr.] (of an organization) be managed and run in a specified way: neither company had operated within the terms of its charter. ∎ [intr.] (of an armed force) conduct military activities in a specified area or from a specified base: the mountain bases from which the guerrillas were operating. 2. [intr.] perform a surgical operation: the surgeons refused to operate my brother had to be operated on last week. 3. [intr.] function; work: we have as yet no conclusive evidence on how these cells operate. |
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"operate." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "operate." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-operate.html "operate." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-operate.html |
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operate
operate v.
1. (of an armed force) conduct military activities in a specified area or from a specified base: the mountain bases from which the guerrillas were operating. 2. (of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system): a shortage of workers to operate new machines. 3. (of a machine, process, or system) function in a specified manner: market forces were allowed to operate freely. |
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Cite this article
"operate." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "operate." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-operate.html "operate." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-operate.html |
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operate
operate †produce an effect; effect, produce, bring about XVII; (orig. U.S.) cause or direct the working of XIX. f. operāt-, pp. stem of L. operārī work, bestow labour upon, f. oper-, OPUS; see -ATE3.
So operation working, performance XIV; surgical act XVI; (mil., math.) XVIII. — (O)F. — L. operative XVI; sb. worker XIX. — late L. operator XVI. — late L. |
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T. F. HOAD. "operate." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "operate." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-operate.html T. F. HOAD. "operate." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-operate.html |
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operate
operate •serrate • concentrate • airfreight
•ingrate • filtrate • arbitrate
•exfiltrate • magistrate • orchestrate
•calibrate • celebrate • emigrate
•immigrate • denigrate • penetrate
•defenestrate • administrate • aspirate
•perpetrate • decerebrate • desecrate
•execrate • consecrate • integrate
•carbohydrate, hydrate
•nitrate • quadrate • prostrate
•borate, quorate
•portrait • polyunsaturate
•acculturate • depurate • indurate
•triturate • inaugurate • suppurate
•substrate • adumbrate
•ameliorate, meliorate
•deteriorate
•collaborate, elaborate
•liberate • corroborate • reverberate
•saturate
•confederate, federate
•desiderate • moderate
•preponderate
•proliferate, vociferate
•perforate • invigorate • exaggerate
•refrigerate • decorate
•accelerate, decelerate
•exhilarate • illustrate • tolerate
•commemorate
•demonstrate, remonstrate
•agglomerate, conglomerate
•enumerate
•generate, venerate
•incinerate, itinerate
•exonerate • remunerate • evaporate
•exasperate • separate
•cooperate, operate
•incorporate
•recuperate, vituperate
•perorate
•lacerate, macerate
•incarcerate • eviscerate • expectorate
•alliterate, iterate, obliterate, transliterate
•adulterate • asseverate • sequestrate
•commiserate • birth rate • sensate
•condensate • decussate • compensate
•tergiversate
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Cite this article
"operate." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "operate." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-operate.html "operate." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-operate.html |
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