Definition of "operate" in English

verb

1. (transitive or intransitive) To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

   • Could someone explain how this meeting operates?
   • In this town, the garbage removal staff operate between six o'clock at midnight.
   • The police had inside knowledge of how the gang operated.

2. (intransitive) To produce an effect.

3. (transitive) To bring about as an effect; to cause.

4. (medicine, transitive or intransitive) 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.

   • The surgeon had to operate on her heart.
   • I'm being operated tomorrow.

5. (transitive or intransitive) To deal in stocks or any commodity with a view to speculative profits.

6. (transitive) To put into, or to continue in, operation or activity; to work.

   • to operate a machine
   • to operate a system
   • to operate a casino