Meaning of operate In English

• 0 to (cause to) work, be in action or have an effect:

  • How do you operate the remote control unit?

  • Does the company operate a pension scheme?

  • For several years she operated a dating agency from her basement.

  • Changes are being introduced to make the department operate more efficiently.

  • Specially equipped troops are operating in the hills.

  • We have representatives operating in most countries.

  • Exchange rates are currently operating to the advantage of exporters.

• 1 to cut a body open for medical reasons in order to repair, remove, or replace an unhealthy or damaged part:

  • If the growth gets any bigger they'll have to operate.

  • Are they going to operate on him?

• 2 to work or cause something to work, be in action, or have an effect:

  • [ T ] How do you operate the remote control unit?

  • [ I ] Changes are being introduced to make the department operate more efficiently.

• 3 to cut a body open in order to repair, remove, or replace an unhealthy or damaged part:

  • Doctors will operate on her tomorrow morning.

• 4 to use or control equipment or a machine or to make something work:

  • Older people are returning to classrooms for instruction in everything from operating a mouse to mastering spreadsheets.

• 5 if a business, system, etc. operates in a particular way, it works or is used in that way:

  • Changes are being introduced to make the department operate more profitably.

  • Exchange rates are currently operating to the advantage of exporters.

  • operate as sth The company operates as an international delivery service for produce trading companies.

  • operate through sb/sth Centralized lenders operate through mortgage brokers and insurance companies.

  • operate at sth The plant is operating at barely 30% of capacity.

• 6 to do business in or from a particular place:

  • operate across/in/from sth We operate in 50 countries around the world.

  • We have representatives operating in most countries.

  • operate out of sth The organization operates out of a small office in the centre of town.

• 7 to manage a business, service, etc. and make it work:

  • The company operated 156 fewer stores this year.

  • We began operating a pilot service earlier this year.

  • Does the company operate a pension plan?