View synonyms for operator

operator

[ op-uh-rey-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who operates a machine, apparatus, or the like:
a telegraph operator.
a person who operates a telephone switchboard, especially for a telephone company.
a person who manages a working or industrial establishment, enterprise, or system:
the operators of a mine.
a person who trades in securities, especially speculatively or on a large scale.
a person who performs a surgical operation; a surgeon.
Mathematics.
1. a symbol for expressing a mathematical operation.
2. a function, especially one transforming a function, set, etc., into another:
  a differential operator.
Informal.
1. a person who accomplishes goals or purposes by devious means; faker; fraud.
2. a person who is adroit at overcoming, avoiding, or evading difficulties, regulations, or restrictions.
3. a person who is extremely successful with or smoothly persuasive to potential sexual or romantic partners.
Genetics. a segment of DNA that interacts with a regulatory molecule, preventing transcription of the adjacent region.

operator

/ ˈɒpəˌreɪtə /

noun

a person who operates a machine, instrument, etc, esp, a person who makes connections on a telephone switchboard or at an exchange
a person who owns or operates an industrial or commercial establishment
a speculator, esp one who operates on currency or stock markets
informal.
a person who manipulates affairs and other people
maths any symbol, term, letter, etc, used to indicate or express a specific operation or process, such as Δ (the differential operator)

operator

/ ŏp′ə-rā′tər /

Mathematics.
A function, especially one from a set to itself, such as differentiation of a differentiable function or rotation of a vector. In quantum mechanics, measurable quantities of a physical system, such as position and momentum, are related to unique operators applied to the wave equation describing the system.
A logical operator.
Genetics.
A segment of chromosomal DNA that regulates the activity of the structural genes of an operon by interacting with a specific repressor.

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Other Words From

pre·oper·ator noun
self-oper·ator noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of operator¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin, equivalent to operā(rī) “to work, effect” ( operate ) + Latin -tor noun suffix ( -tor )

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Example Sentences

Just because two pieces of malware share a common ancestry, it obviously does not mean they share a common operator.

From The Daily Beast

Wright approved one of the wells after the operator agreed to bring it into compliance, according to the letter.

From The Daily Beast

Teague replied: “I have to allow an operator or plugger a way to appeal when he believes our requirements are unreasonable.”

From The Daily Beast

In 1881, along came Bailey, operator of another circus, and two circuses joined to give rise to the first three-ring spectacle.

From The Daily Beast

He had a steady job as a machine operator, and owned his own home.

From The Daily Beast

It was round, with a small, rectangular projection for the operator's controls and calculator.

From Project Gutenberg

Again it was empty except for the operator, a tow-headed kid with a Racing Form tucked in a side pocket.

From Project Gutenberg

The operator who was speculating in a small way himself smiled when he read the telegram.

From Project Gutenberg

And as if in answer to their thoughts, the operator straightened, with a little gesture of hopelessness.

From Project Gutenberg

At last the wire opened again, and the operator went once more to his desk.

From Project Gutenberg

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