Main Entry: op·er·a·tor

Pronunciation: \ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər, ˈä-ˌprā-\

Function: noun

Date: 1611

1 : one that operates: as a : one that operates a machine or device b : one that operates a business c : one that performs surgical operations d : one that deals in stocks or commodities
2 a : mountebank, fraud b : a shrewd and skillful person who knows how to circumvent restrictions or difficulties
3 a : something and especially a symbol that denotes or performs a mathematical or logical operation b : a mathematical function
4 : a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes —called also operator gene — compare operon

— op·er·a·tor·less adjective