operate
gb/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt/ us/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt/
A2
Inglés
~ 1000
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
A2
action
1
Control and make something work
To use and control a machine or system so that it works.
Patrón de uso:
to operate [a machine/device/system]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'operate' with 'repair'. Operating means using, not fixing.
Sinónimos
use (A more general term; may not imply technical control.)
|
run (Informal; often used for operating machines or processes.)
Antónimos
shut down (Means to stop a machine or system from working.)
Colocaciones
operate machinery
|operate equipment
|operate a vehicle
|operate a computer
|operate controls
Temas
technology
|work
|daily life
Ejemplos
- He operates the crane at the construction site.
- You need special training to operate this type of forklift.
- The technician operated the control panel to start the system.
- She operates a sewing machine with great skill.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I can operate the coffee machine.
- He operates the bus every day.
- She operates the computer well.
- We operate the lights from here.
Verbo
B1
action
2
Perform surgery on someone
To cut into someone's body to fix or remove something inside.
Patrón de uso:
to operate on [someone/something] for [a condition]
Error frecuente:
Learners may forget to include 'on' after 'operate' in this sense.
Sinónimos
perform surgery (More formal and explicit medical term for the same action.)
Antónimos
heal naturally (Letting the body recover without surgical intervention.)
Colocaciones
operate on a patient
|operate on the heart
|operate on an injury
Temas
health
|medicine
|body
Ejemplos
- The surgeon will operate on her knee tomorrow.
- They had to operate on his appendix immediately.
- A team of doctors operated on the wounded soldier.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The doctor will operate on my arm.
- They operate on sick people in the hospital.
- She operated on the dog's leg.
Verbo
B1
action
3
Function or be in working order
To work or function as planned.
Sinónimos
function (More formal; often used in technical contexts.)
|
work (More casual and general term for functioning.)
Antónimos
malfunction (Describes when something fails to work properly.)
Colocaciones
operate smoothly
|operate efficiently
|operate continuously
Temas
technology
|business
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The elevator is not operating today.
- Our company operates in over 50 countries.
- This software operates on both Windows and Mac systems.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The machine is operating well.
- The store operates all week.
- The website operates day and night.
Verbo
B1
action
4
Manage and run a business or organization
To run and be in charge of a company or service.
Patrón de uso:
to operate [a company/organization/service]
Sinónimos
manage (General term for being in charge of operations.)
|
run (Informal equivalent for managing a business.)
Antónimos
close down (To end the operation of a business or service.)
Colocaciones
operate a restaurant
|operate a service
|operate a franchise
Temas
business
|work
Ejemplos
- They operate several hotels in the city.
- The charity operates a shelter for homeless people.
- She operates her own online store.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- They operate a small shop.
- My uncle operates a taxi service.
- We operate two restaurants in town.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
operate
AFI
GB/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt/
US/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt/
Sílabas y acento
op - er - ate (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (op)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: operate
- 3rd Person Singular: operates
- Present Participle: operating
- Past: operated
Familia de palabras
Forms
operates
verb
operating
verb
operated
verb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
inoperative
adjective
uncooperative
adjective
Advanced or less common
operative
adjective B2
operationally
adverb
Expresiones
operate at full capacity
1/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt ˈæt fˈʊl kəpˈæsɪti/
fixed phrase
Work at maximum level possible
To work as much as possible without stopping or slowing down.
Ejemplos
- The factory is now operating at full capacity to meet demand.
- During peak hours, the servers operate at full capacity.
operate on
1/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Perform surgery on someone/something
To do surgery on someone or an animal to fix or remove something inside their body.
Ejemplos
- The doctors will operate on his back tomorrow.
- They had to operate on the injured cat immediately.
operate within the law
1/ˈɑpɚˌeɪt wɪðˈɪn ðə lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
Act according to the law
To do business or activities without breaking any laws.
Ejemplos
- All businesses must operate within the law.
- The company insists it operates within the law at all times.