English verb: operate | |||
1. | operate (social) direct or control; projects, businesses, etc. | ||
Samples | She is running a relief operation in the Sudan. | ||
Synonyms | run | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | direct | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | block, financier, warm up, work | ||
2. | operate (contact) perform as expected when applied | ||
Samples | 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. | ||
Examples | These cars won't operate | ||
Synonyms | function, go, run, work | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | cut, double, roll, run, serve, service | ||
Verb group | run, work | ||
Antonyms | malfunction, misfunction | ||
3. | operate (contact) handle and cause to function | ||
Samples | Do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol. Control the lever. | ||
Synonyms | control | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | manipulate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | aviate, dial, drive, fly, gate, pedal, pilot, relay, submarine, synchronise, synchronize, treadle, turn | ||
Verb group | control, master | ||
4. | operate (competition) perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense | ||
Synonyms | maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something PP. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | go, move | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | jockey | ||
5. | operate (change) happen | ||
Samples | What is going on in the minds of the people?. | ||
Pattern of use | Something is ----ing PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place | ||
6. | operate (contact) keep engaged | ||
Samples | Engaged the gears. | ||
Synonyms | engage, lock, mesh | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something is ----ing PP. Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | displace, move | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | flip, ride, switch, throw | ||
Antonyms | disengage, withdraw | ||
7. | operate (body) perform surgery on | ||
Samples | The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life. | ||
Examples | Did he operate his foot? | ||
Synonyms | operate on | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | care for, treat | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | desex, desexualise, desexualize, face-lift, fix, lift, sterilise, sterilize, trephine, unsex, venesect | ||
Domain category | medicine, practice of medicine | ||