operator

noun op·er·a·tor \ ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər , ˈä-ˌprā- \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of operator

1 : one that operates: such 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

—

operatorless

adjective

See operator defined for English-language learners

See operator defined for kids

Examples of operator in a Sentence

the operator of an automobile
the operator of a nuclear power plant
Call the operator for the phone number.
Operator, please connect me with extension 123.
She's quite an operator—no one else could have gotten them all to agree to the project.

Recent Examples of operator from the Web

Lauga doesn't oppose the heat limits, but temperatures had been monitored by carriage operators at a weather station on Jackson Square.

— kevin litten, NOLA.com, "Here's what's in the new regulations for F.Q. carriages," 21 Apr. 2018
Eimiller said federal agents assigned to the task force worked separately on several other investigations, including the case against a hospital operator convicted of paying doctors millions of dollars in kickbacks for patient referrals.

— richard winton, latimes.com, "O.C. anti-corruption task force collapsed amid infighting between federal and local investigators," 21 Apr. 2018
Everyone was wearing life jackets and Brad Kloepfer, the boat's operator, was wearing his safety kill switch, Mohave County Sheriff's Office said.

— brieanna j frank, azcentral, "2 killed, 1 injured in boat crash at Lake Havasu," 21 Apr. 2018
Li called a second time and got a different operator.

— anne branigin, The Root, "'Ain't Nobody Got Time for This': Former Houston 911 Operator Fired for Hanging Up on Emergency Callers," 20 Apr. 2018
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn says train stops at the busy station will end at 10 a.m., and at 11:30 a.m. through traffic will also be shut down before experts begin their work.

— Fox News, "Large area of Berlin center evacuated for WWII bomb disposal," 20 Apr. 2018
Night and day, welders, riggers and crane operators moved heavy metal up and down the shipyard in the harshest of conditions.

— pat mcdonogh, The Courier-Journal, "As the last barge rolls off the line, Jeffboat workers say goodbye to an era and their jobs," 20 Apr. 2018
Meanwhile, hoarders and black market operators started stockpiling 2,000-rupee notes, worth about $30 each.

— hari kumar and vindu goel, New York Times, "India’s A.T.M.s Are Running Out of Cash. Again.," 20 Apr. 2018
Trains were prevented from stopping at the busy station from 10 a.m., and traffic was shut down at 11:30 a.m. before experts began their work, German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said.

— BostonGlobe.com, "WWII bomb defused in Berlin after large evacuation," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'operator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of operator

borrowed from Late Latin operātor "worker, producer," from operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -tor, agent suffix — more at operate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1598

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

OPERATOR Defined for English Language Learners

operator

noun

Definition of operator for English Language Learners

: a person who uses and controls something (such as a machine, device, or business) : someone who operates something
: a person whose job is to help to connect telephone calls : a person who is in charge of a telephone switchboard
: a person who is able to easily achieve things especially by persuading people or by being dishonest

OPERATOR Defined for Kids

operator

noun op·er·a·tor \ ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər \

Definition of operator for Students

1 : a person who manages or controls something

a plow operator

2 : a person in charge of a telephone switchboard

3 : a person who is skillful at achieving things by persuasion or deception

Medical Dictionary

operator

noun op·er·a·tor \ ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər \

medical 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