operate
verb- [intransitive] + adv./prep.
to work in a particular way 运转；工作 Most domestic freezers operate at below −18°C. 多数家用冰柜能制冷到零下 18 摄氏度以下。 Solar panels can only operate in sunlight. 太阳能电池板只能在日光下起作用。 - (figurative)
Some people can only operate well under pressure. 有些人只有在压力下才工作得好。
Extra ExamplesThe equipment was not operating properly. 设备运转出现异常。 The machine can operate for 15 hours continuously at full power. 这台机器能以最大功率连续运转 15 个小时。 Room air conditioners must be installed on a flat surface in order to operate efficiently. 房间空调必须安装在平坦的表面上，以便高效运行。 If hydraulic pressure is lost then a fail safe mechanism operates on the flywheels. 如果液压丧失，飞轮上就会有一个自动防故障装置。 Heating and cooling systems will operate only between the peak work hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 供暖和制冷系统只能在上午10点的高峰工作时间运行。和下午3时。 The steel belts required lubricants to operate smoothly. 钢带需要润滑剂才能平稳运行。 We do safety checks, making sure the metal detector is operating correctly. 我们进行安全检查，确保金属探测器正常工作。 When the system is operating, the output is 4 kilowatts of cold or 5.3 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity. 当系统运行时，输出是每千瓦电4千瓦的冷或5.3千瓦的热。 - (figurative)
People learn best when they're operating in a less competitive mode. 当人们在竞争较弱的模式下工作时，他们学得最好。 Teachers should not operate on the assumption that all children have access to the internet at home. 教师不应该假设所有的孩子在家都能上网。 Workplace conflict hampers an organization's ability to operate effectively. 工作场所冲突阻碍了一个组织有效运作的能力。
- [transitive] operate something
to use or control a machine or make it work 操作；控制；使运行 What skills are needed to operate this machinery? 操作这种机器需要什么技能？ They use a remotely operated camera. 他们使用遥控照相机。 The doors can be manually operated in the event of fire. 发生火灾时，这些门可以手动开关。
Extra ExamplesThe machinery is easy to operate. 这种机器容易操作。 Do not operate heavy machinery while taking this medication. 服药期间不要操作重型机械。 A licensed driver is permitted by society to operate a vehicle. 社会允许有执照的司机驾驶车辆。 The front windows are electrically operated. 前窗是电动的。 An experienced pilot was operating the aircraft. 一名经验丰富的飞行员正在驾驶飞机。 21st century lifeboat crews learn to operate hi-tech equipment. 21世纪的救生艇船员学会操作高科技设备。 The teacher operates the camera and attempts to follow the students' storyboards. 老师操作摄像机，试图跟随学生的故事板。 The animals can be trained to operate levers and push buttons in response to flashing lights. 这些动物可以被训练操作杠杆和按钮来响应闪光灯。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- effectively
- efficiently
- reliably
- …
- be designed to
- be easy to
- [transitive] operate something
to manage a business, organization or service 管理一项业务、组织或服务 The airline currently operates flights to 25 countries. 该航空公司目前经营飞往25个国家的航班。 By last year, the chain was operating 388 stores in 47 states. 截至去年，该连锁店在47个州经营着388家店铺。 He started and operated a successful technology business. 他开创并经营了一家成功的科技企业。 The company operates public transport services across the world. 该公司在世界各地经营公共交通服务。
Extra ExamplesHe won one of three licenses to operate casinos in Macau. 他获得了在澳门经营赌场的三个许可证之一。 They operate 32 marketing teams across the country. 他们在全国经营着32个营销团队。 The grill chain operates six restaurants in the Miami area. 烧烤连锁店在迈阿密地区经营着六家餐馆。 Some plants operate their own testing facilities. 一些工厂有自己的测试设施。 The company operates a global network of servers. 该公司运营着一个全球服务器网络。 Telecom Namibia operates the only public network in Namibia. 纳米比亚电信运营着纳米比亚唯一的公共网络。 The laboratory is still owned by the government but is now commercially operated. 这个实验室仍为政府所有，但现在实行商业化运作。
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. (of a business, organization or service)
to work, especially in a particular way or from a particular place （以某方式或从某地方）经营，营业 A new late-night service is now operating. 现在推出一项新的深夜服务。 They plan to operate from a new office in Edinburgh. 他们计划由爱丁堡的新办事处经营。 Retailers operate in a fast-paced environment. 零售商在快节奏的环境中经营。 The business operates on a cooperative basis. 这家企业是在合作的基础上经营的。 We operate independently from our sister companies. 我们独立于姐妹公司运营。
Extra ExamplesIllegal drinking clubs continue to operate in the city. 非法饮酒俱乐部继续在城内营业。 Foreign businesses must wait about five months to get a license to operate. 外国企业必须等待大约五个月才能获得经营许可证。 A shuttle bus service will operate to and from the showground. 往返表演场地的班车服务。 There are many factors that might affect a firm seeking to operate in a new market. 有许多因素可能会影响一家寻求在新市场经营的公司。 Our members operate in areas including marketing, financial services, healthcare and housing. 我们的成员在市场营销、金融服务、医疗保健和住房等领域开展业务。 The goal of the plant is to operate in a just-in-time manner. 工厂的目标是以准时的方式运作。 Local authorities operate within a wider political system. 地方政府在一个较为宽松的政治体制内运作。 The production operated within the ethical constraints imposed by the television network. 这部电影是在电视网络强加的道德约束下制作的。 The government does not operate according to fixed rules. 政府并不按照固定规则运作。 The industry operates under rigid guidelines. 该行业在严格的规则指导下运转。 At that time, the United States operated under the Meat Import Law of 1964. 当时，美国根据1964年的《肉类进口法》运作。 Their household operates on a tight budget. 他们家预算紧张。 The hospital was operating normally. 这家医院运营正常。 The internet harbours pharmacies that operate illegally. 互联网窝藏非法经营的药店。 In wartime, markets do not operate freely. 战时，市场不能自由运作。 These wells have been operating safely for many years. 这些油井已经安全运行多年了。 Market conditions no longer allowed the company to operate profitably. 市场条件不再允许公司盈利。 We operate as an advisory service for schools. 我们为学校提供咨询服务。 It will continue to operate as a separate company with its own sales and marketing team. 它将继续作为一家独立的公司运营，拥有自己的销售和营销团队。 Multiple similar companies already operate in the same area. 多家类似的公司已经在同一地区运营。 His clinic operated out of Juarez in Mexico. 他的诊所在墨西哥的华雷斯经营。
- [intransitive, transitive]
to be used or working; to use something or make it work （被）使用；（使）运转 The regulation operates in favour of married couples. 这一规定的实施有利于已婚夫妇。 He believes that sinister forces are operating. 他认为邪恶势力正在活动。 - operate something
France operates a system of subsidized loans to dairy farmers. 法国对奶农实行补贴贷款制度。
Extra ExamplesIn Germany, the recycling scheme has been operating for several years. 在德国，回收计划已经实施了几年。 A waiting list system will operate. 等候名单制度将会运作。 circumstances in which natural selection is operating 自然选择运作的环境 It has become apparent from the study of these cells there may be more than one mechanism operating. 对这些细胞的研究表明，可能有不止一种机制在起作用。 These people do not understand how the scientific process operates. 这些人不明白科学过程是如何运作的。 Consumer law operates on a case-by-case basis. 消费者法律在个案的基础上运作。 This system operates on the principle that lighter soils require less pesticide than darker soils. 该系统的工作原理是浅色土壤比深色土壤需要更少的杀虫剂。 Standardize procedures to ensure the system operates efficiently. 标准化程序，确保系统高效运行。 We like to believe that our legal system operates with scrupulous fairness. 我们愿意相信我们的法律体系是以严格公平的方式运作的。 These people have no understanding of how the system operates, nor access to those who do. 这些人不了解这个系统是如何运作的，也无法接触到那些了解的人。 As described by Freud, the emotions of love and hate operate in a similar manner. 正如弗洛伊德所描述的，爱与恨的情感以相似的方式运作。 Great works of art operate on many levels and can be interpreted in many different ways. 伟大的艺术作品在许多层面上运作，可以用许多不同的方式来解释。
- [intransitive]
to cut open somebody’s body in order to remove a part that has a disease or to repair a part that is damaged 动手术 Surgeons operated last night. 外科医生昨晚做了手术。 - operate on somebody/something
We will have to operate on his eyes. 我们得给他的眼睛动手术。 She was operated on the next day. 第二天她做了手术。
Extra ExamplesTopics Medicineb2Doctors operated for seven hours, amputating his right arm. 医生做了7个小时的手术，切断了他的右臂。 It may be necessary to operate. 可能需要操作。 Surgeons often operate during the night, and often after disturbed sleep. 外科医生经常在夜间手术，通常是在睡眠受到干扰后。 The surgeon operates to obtain tissue for histological examination. 外科医生通过手术获取组织进行组织学检查。 Doctors operated on her wrists. 医生给她的手腕做了手术。 She died in hospital as surgeons operated on her. 外科医生给她做手术时，她在医院去世了。 He was admitted to hospital and his foot was operated on. 他住院了，他的脚做了手术。 Surgeons operated on him for two hours to remove the blade. 外科医生给他做了两个小时的手术来取出刀片。 He will be operated on next week to have his colon removed. 下周他将接受手术切除结肠。
- [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.)
to be involved in military activities in a place （在某地）采取军事行动
machine机器
business/organization/service
system/process
medical医疗
of soldiers士兵
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Latin operat- ‘done by labour’, from the verb operari, from opus, oper- ‘work’.