operate

Operate is a verb with several related meanings centered on control, function, and execution. It commonly means to control the functioning of a machine or system; to perform a surgical procedure on a person; and to run or manage a business or organization. It can also mean to work or function in a particular way, or to act under certain conditions.

As a transitive verb, operate a device means to cause it to perform its tasks, often by human input or automated control. For example, “The technician operates the crane.” In medicine, to operate on a patient is to perform a surgical procedure; the related noun is operation. In business, a firm operates in multiple markets or regions. An institution or system may be said to operate in accordance with a policy. Intransitively, something may operate or function: “The machine operates quietly.” The term appears in phrases such as “operate under” or “operate within” to indicate conditions or limitations.

Etymology and related terms: operate derives from Latin operari, meaning “to work,” via Old French operer. Related forms include operation, operator, and operational. The word is used across technical, medical, and everyday contexts, with nuances tied to control, execution, and functionality.