actuates

Actuates is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb actuate. To actuate means to cause to operate, to put into action, or to drive a mechanism or process. The term is commonly used in engineering, automation, and computing to describe triggering a response or enabling movement.

In technical contexts, actuation refers to the overall process by which a control signal is converted into physical motion or action. An object that performs actuation is called an actuator, and actuation can be achieved through various energy forms, such as electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power. For example, a control system may actuate a valve or switch when a sensor detects a specific condition. The verb actuates is often used to describe these triggers, as in “the system actuates the relay,” or “the controller actuates the motor.”

Actuate, actuating, actuation, and actuator are related terms with distinct roles. Actuate is the action verb; actuation is the process or act of causing something to operate; an actuator is the device that performs the actuation. The word’s usage spans mechanical engineering, robotics, automation, and software that models or sequences physical responses.

Etymology traces actuate to forms in English derived from Latin actus and related Romance roots, evolving through French and early modern English to denote bringing into action or movement. See also actuator and actuation for closely related concepts.