{
    "term": "operate",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "operate",
            "heSheIt": "operates"
        },
        "pastSimple": "operated",
        "pastParticiple": "operated",
        "ingForm": "operating"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to work in a particular way",
            "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.",
            "labels": "(figurative)(figurative)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Most domestic freezers operate at below −18°C."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Solar panels can only operate in sunlight."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some people can only operate well under pressure."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The equipment was not operating properly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The machine can operate for 15 hours continuously at full power."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Room air conditioners must be installed on a flat surface in order to operate efficiently."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If hydraulic pressure is lost then a fail safe mechanism operates on the flywheels."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Heating and cooling systems will operate only between the peak work hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The steel belts required lubricants to operate smoothly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We do safety checks, making sure the metal detector is operating correctly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "When the system is operating, the output is 4 kilowatts of cold or 5.3 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "People learn best when they're operating in a less competitive mode."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Teachers should not operate on the assumption that all children have access to the internet at home."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Workplace conflict hampers an organization's ability to operate effectively."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "function"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to use or control a machine or make it work",
            "sensetop": "operate something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What skills are needed to operate this machinery?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They use a **remotely operated** camera."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The doors can be **manually operated** in the event of fire."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The machinery is easy to operate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do not operate heavy machinery while taking this medication."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A licensed driver is permitted by society to operate a vehicle."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The front windows are electrically operated."
                },
                {
                    "text": "An experienced pilot was operating the aircraft."
                },
                {
                    "text": "21st century lifeboat crews learn to operate hi-tech equipment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The teacher operates the camera and attempts to follow the students' storyboards."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The animals can be trained to operate levers and push buttons in response to flashing lights."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["effectively", "efficiently", "reliably"],
                "verb + operate": ["be designed to", "be easy to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to manage a business, organization or service",
            "sensetop": "operate something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The airline currently **operates flights** to 25 countries."
                },
                {
                    "text": "By last year, the chain was operating 388 stores in 47 states."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He started and **operated a** successful technology **business**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company **operates** public transport **services** across the world."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He won one of three licenses to operate casinos in Macau."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They operate 32 marketing teams across the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The grill chain operates six restaurants in the Miami area."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some plants operate their own testing facilities."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company operates a global network of servers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Telecom Namibia operates the only public network in Namibia."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The laboratory is still owned by the government but is now commercially operated."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to work, especially in a particular way or from a particular place",
            "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "A new late-night service is now operating."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They plan to operate from a new office in Edinburgh."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Retailers operate in a fast-paced environment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The business operates on a cooperative basis."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We **operate independently** from our sister companies."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Illegal drinking clubs continue to operate in the city."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Foreign businesses must wait about five months to get a license to operate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A shuttle bus service will operate to and from the showground."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are many factors that might affect a firm seeking to operate in a new market."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Our members operate in areas including marketing, financial services, healthcare and housing."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The goal of the plant is to operate in a just-in-time manner."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Local authorities operate within a wider political system."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The production operated within the ethical constraints imposed by the television network."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government does not operate according to fixed rules."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The industry operates under rigid guidelines."
                },
                {
                    "text": "At that time, the United States operated under the Meat Import Law of 1964."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their household operates on a tight budget."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The hospital was operating normally."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The internet harbours pharmacies that operate illegally."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In wartime, markets do not operate freely."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These wells have been operating safely for many years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Market conditions no longer allowed the company to operate profitably."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We operate as an advisory service for schools."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It will continue to operate as a separate company with its own sales and marketing team."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Multiple similar companies already operate in the same area."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His clinic operated out of Juarez in Mexico."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to be used or working; to use something or make it work",
            "sensetop": "operate something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The regulation operates in favour of married couples."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He believes that sinister **forces are operating**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "France **operates a system** of subsidized loans to dairy farmers.",
                    "contextForm": "operate something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "In Germany, the recycling scheme has been operating for several years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A waiting list system will operate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "circumstances in which natural selection is operating"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It has become apparent from the study of these cells there may be more than one mechanism operating."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These people do not understand how the scientific process operates."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Consumer law operates on a case-by-case basis."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This system operates on the principle that lighter soils require less pesticide than darker soils."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Standardize procedures to ensure the system operates efficiently."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We like to believe that our legal system operates with scrupulous fairness."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These people have no understanding of how the system operates, nor access to those who do."
                },
                {
                    "text": "As described by Freud, the emotions of love and hate operate in a similar manner."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Great works of art operate on many levels and can be interpreted in many different ways."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to cut open somebody’s body in order to remove a part that has a disease or to repair a part that is damaged",
            "sensetop": "operate on somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Surgeons operated last night."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We will have to operate on his eyes.",
                    "contextForm": "operate on somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was operated on the next day."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Doctors operated for seven hours, amputating his right arm."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It may be necessary to operate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Surgeons often operate during the night, and often after disturbed sleep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The surgeon operates to obtain tissue for histological examination."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Doctors operated on her wrists."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She died in hospital as surgeons operated on her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was admitted to hospital and his foot was operated on."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Surgeons operated on him for two hours to remove the blade."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He will be operated on next week to have his colon removed."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Healthcare"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to be involved in military activities in a place",
            "sensetop": "(+ adv./prep.)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Troops are operating from bases in the north."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɒpəreɪt/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operate__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɒpəreɪts/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operates__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɒpəreɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operated__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɒpəreɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operating__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɑːpəreɪt/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operate__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɑːpəreɪts/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operates__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɑːpəreɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operated__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɑːpəreɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "op/operate/operating__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "early 17th cent.: from Latin operat- ‘done by labour’, from the verb operari, from opus, oper- ‘work’."
}