operator

noun

op·​er·​a·​tor ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər 

ˈä-ˌprā-

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

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 on the Web

The largest operator of minor league baseball teams bought the Modesto Nuts and plans to move the team to San Bernardino in 2026, the Nuts announced Thursday. —Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Byte Federal, a leading Bitcoin ATM operator in the United States, has disclosed a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal information of approximately 58,000 customers. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

During the Carrington Event, some telegraph operators reported sparks flying from equipment, causing fires in some cases. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

Many performances are career peaks: Thompson is luminous; Branagh plays Benedick with exquisite finesse, a sly operator who secretly wants to get caught. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing operator

• crane operator
• smooth operator

Kids Definition

operator

noun

op·​er·​a·​tor ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər 

1

: a person who operates something

the operator of an automobile

2

: a person in charge of a telephone switchboard

Medical Definition

operator

noun

op·​er·​a·​tor ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər 

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