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actuate

 - 2 dictionary results

ac⋅tu⋅ate

[ak-choo-eyt]
–verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
1. to incite or move to action; impel; motivate: actuated by selfish motives.
2. to put into action; start a process; turn on: to actuate a machine.

Origin:
1590–1600; < ML āctuāt(us) reduced to action (ptp. of āctuāre), equiv. to L āctu(s) (see act ) + -ātus -ate 1


ac⋅tu⋅a⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ac·tu·ate   (āk'chōō-āt')   
tr.v.   ac·tu·at·ed, ac·tu·at·ing, ac·tu·ates
  1. To put into motion or action; activate: electrical relays that actuate the elevator's movements.

  2. To move to action: a speech that actuated dissent.


[Medieval Latin āctuāre, āctuāt-, from Latin āctus, act; see act.]
ac'tu·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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