Actuate - English meaning

verb

Make (something) active or operative.

Usage examples:

Fumes from cooking are enough to activate the alarm

verb

To cause something to start working

Usage examples:

Something activated the car alarm.

verb

To make something start working or happening

Usage examples:

New customers must call an automated line to activate their card., the move will activate a clause …

verb

Bring to life.

Usage examples:

Prometheus stole fire from heaven to animate his clay men

adjective

Alive or having life.

Usage examples:

Gods in a wide variety of forms, both animate and inanimate

verb

To cause someone or something to be more active or full of life

Usage examples:

He knows exactly what to say to animate a crowd.

verb

Evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response).

Usage examples:

Something about the man aroused the guard's suspicions

verb

To cause someone to have a particular feeling

Usage examples:

It's a subject that has aroused a lot of interest., our suspicions were first aroused when we heard…

verb

To cause someone to feel sexual excitement

verb

Operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

Usage examples:

He got into his car and drove off

noun

(of a fact or feeling) compel (someone) to act in a particular way, especially one that is considered undesirable or inappropriate.

Usage examples:

He was driven by ambition

verb

To travel in a motor vehicle, esp. as the person who operates it

Usage examples:

[ t ] we drove 40 miles to visit my aunt., [ i ] she drove through pennsylvania to ohio., [ i ] she…

verb

Give vitality and enthusiasm to.

Usage examples:

People were energized by his ideas

verb

To make something more active

Usage examples:

The candidate is trying to energize voters.

verb

To make someone feel energetic or eager

Usage examples:

I felt very energized after my holiday.

noun

A process in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke; combustion or burning.

Usage examples:

His house was destroyed by fire

verb

Discharge a gun or other weapon in order to propel (a bullet or projectile).

Usage examples:

He fired a shot at the retreating prisoners

noun

The state of burning, or a burning mass of material

Usage examples:

[ u ] the factory had to be closed because the risk of fire was too great., [ c ] there have been a…

verb

Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.

Usage examples:

He was trying to goad her into a fight

noun

A spiked stick used for driving cattle.

Usage examples:

The ripon report suggests widespread use of sticks and electric goads, and says that some animals h…

verb

To make a person or an animal react or do something by continuously annoying or upsetting them

Usage examples:

Goad someone into something she seemed determined to goad him into a fight., he refused to be goade…

verb

Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.

Usage examples:

Financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures

verb

To force someone to do something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] when i see them eating, i feel impelled to eat, too.

verb

To make someone feel that they must do something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] she was in such a mess i felt impelled to (= felt i had to) offer your services…

verb

Encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour).

Usage examples:

They conspired to incite riots

verb

To encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent

Usage examples:

She incited racial hatred by distributing anti-semitic leaflets., [ + to infinitive ] she was expel…

noun

The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Usage examples:

The influence of television violence

verb

Have an influence on.

Usage examples:

Government regulations can influence behaviour, but often without changing underlying values and mo…

verb

A power to affect persons or events

verb

Set to the value or put in the condition appropriate to the start of an operation.

Usage examples:

The counter is initialized to one

verb

To prepare a computer program or system to start working

Usage examples:

Please wait while the system is initializing., an initialisation file

verb

To set the numbers, amounts, etc. in a computer program so that it is ready to start working

verb

Cause (a process or action) to begin.

Usage examples:

He proposes to initiate discussions on planning procedures

noun

A person who has been initiated into an organization or activity.

Usage examples:

An initiate of the cult

verb

To cause something to begin

Usage examples:

The peace talks were initiated by a special envoy.

verb

Provide (someone) with a reason for doing something.

Usage examples:

He was primarily motivated by the desire for profit

verb

Give an incentive for action

verb

To make someone eager to do something

Usage examples:

Motivate sb to do sth she managed to motivate staff to work together after the merger., be motivate…

verb

Go in a specified direction or manner; change position.

Usage examples:

She moved to the door

noun

A change of place, position, or state.

Usage examples:

She made a sudden move towards me

verb

Change location

verb

(of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system).

Usage examples:

The prime minister operates a system of divide and rule

verb

Perform as expected when applied

verb

To work or cause something to work, be in action, or have an effect

Usage examples:

[ t ] how do you operate the remote control unit?, [ i ] changes are being introduced to make the d…

verb

(of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling).

Usage examples:

The violence prompted a wave of refugees to flee the country

noun

An act of encouraging a hesitating speaker.

Usage examples:

With barely a prompt, barbara talked on

adjective

Done without delay; immediate.

Usage examples:

She would have died but for the prompt action of two ambulancemen

verb

Cause to stop sleeping.

Usage examples:

She was roused from a deep sleep by a hand on her shoulder

verb

To wake someone or make someone more active or excited

Usage examples:

She roused him from his sleep.

idiom

To begin something

Usage examples:

Newly discovered evidence set a second investigation in motion.

phrasal verb

Begin to travel or move.

Usage examples:

We started off on our journey

verb

To begin to do something or go somewhere, or to begin or happen

Usage examples:

[ t ] when do you start your new job?, [ i ] we started with nothing when we got married., [ i ] cl…

verb

To begin to work in a job

Usage examples:

Can you start on monday?, i recently started a new job and i'm enjoying it very much so far., entry…

collocation

Get going or set in motion

phrasal verb

(of a machine or device) begin operating or being used.

Usage examples:

He heard the sound of a car starting up

phrasal verb

Embark on a venture or undertaking, especially a commercial one.

Usage examples:

I can't start up on my own without capital

verb

Raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system).

Usage examples:

The women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries

verb

To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active

Usage examples:

Tax cuts will stimulate the economy., read books to stimulate your child’s imagination., some veget…

verb

To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active

Usage examples:

The government plans to cut taxes in order to stimulate the economy., stimulate growth/investment/t…

verb

Move a spoon or other implement round in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly.

Usage examples:

Desmond stirred his tea and ate a biscuit

noun

A slight physical movement.

Usage examples:

I stood, straining eyes and ears for the faintest stir

noun

Prison.

Usage examples:

I've spent twenty-eight years in stir

noun

A small device that releases a spring or catch and so sets off a mechanism, especially in order to fire a gun.

Usage examples:

He pulled the trigger of the shotgun

verb

Cause (a device) to function.

Usage examples:

Burglars fled empty-handed after triggering the alarm

noun

A part of a gun that causes the gun to fire when pressed

Usage examples:

To pull the trigger, i triggered the smoke alarm when i burned the potatoes., eating chocolate can …

verb

Catch one's foot on something and stumble or fall.

Usage examples:

He tripped over his cat

noun

A journey or excursion, especially for pleasure.

Usage examples:

Sammy's gone on a school trip

noun

A flock or group of goats, sheep, or other animals.

Usage examples:

She exchanged her cows for a trip of goats

verb

Try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something.

Usage examples:

He urged her to come and stay with us

noun

A strong desire or impulse.

Usage examples:

He felt the urge to giggle

verb

To encourage someone strongly to do something or to ask that something be done

Usage examples:

Party leaders urged her to run for congress., a human/natural urge, sometimes i get an urge to go s…