Dictionary entry details
• OPERATE (verb)
Meaning:
Direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
operate; run
Context example:
She is running a relief operation in the Sudan
Hypernyms (to "operate" is one way to...):
direct (be in charge of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "operate"):
financier (conduct financial operations, often in an unethical manner)
work (operate in or through)
block (run on a block system)
warm up (run until the normal working temperature is reached)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Perform as expected when applied
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
function; operate; work; run; go
Context examples:
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
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "operate"):
serve; service (be used by; as of a utility)
cut (function as a cutting instrument)
run (be operating, running or functioning)
roll (begin operating or running)
double (do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sentence example:
These cars won't operate
Meaning:
Handle and cause to function
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
control; operate
Context examples:
do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol / control the lever
Hypernyms (to "operate" is one way to...):
manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "operate"):
gate (control with a valve or other device that functions like a gate)
pedal (operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument)
drive (operate or control a vehicle)
aviate; fly; pilot (fly a plane)
relay (control or operate by relay)
treadle (operate (machinery) by a treadle)
submarine (control a submarine)
turn (alter the functioning or setting of)
dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)
synchronise; synchronize (operate simultaneously)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
manoeuvre; manoeuver; maneuver; operate
Hypernyms (to "operate" is one way to...):
go; move (have a turn; make one's move in a game)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "operate"):
jockey (compete (for an advantage or a position))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Happen
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
What is going on in the minds of the people?
Hypernyms (to "operate" is one way to...):
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Keep engaged
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
mesh; lock; operate; engage
Context example:
engaged the gears
Hypernyms (to "operate" is one way to...):
displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "operate"):
flip; switch; throw (cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation)
ride (keep partially engaged by slightly depressing a pedal with the foot)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Perform surgery on
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
operate on; operate
Context example:
The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life
Hypernyms (to "operate" is one way to...):
care for; treat (provide treatment for)
Domain category:
medicine; practice of medicine (the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "operate"):
desex; desexualise; desexualize; fix; sterilise; sterilize; unsex (make infertile)
face-lift; lift (perform cosmetic surgery on someone's face)
trephine (operate on with a trephine)
venesect (practice venesection)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Did he operate his foot?
