operator

op·er·a·tor

noun \ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər\

Definition of OPERATOR

1

: one (as a dentist or surgeon) who performs surgical operations

2

: 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