op ‧ e ‧ ra ‧ tor W3 /ˈɒpəreɪtə $ ˈɑːpəreɪtər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ operation , ↑ cooperation , ↑ operative , ↑ cooperative , ↑ operator ; adjective : ↑ operational , ↑ operative , ↑ cooperative ≠ ↑ uncooperative ; verb : ↑ operate , ↑ cooperate ; adverb : ↑ operationally , ↑ cooperatively ]
1 . someone who works on a telephone ↑ switchboard , who you can call for help:
Hello, operator? Could you put me through to Room 31?
2 . someone who operates a machine or piece of equipment
machine/computer/radio etc operator
computers which can be used by untrained operators
3 . a person or company that operates a particular business:
new regulations affecting taxi operators
Julian travelled with Caribbean Connection, the UK's leading Caribbean tour operator (=company that arranges holidays) .
a private operator running regular passenger services
4 . someone who is good at achieving things by persuading people to help or agree with them:
Monsieur Valentin was a formidable political operator.
He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator (=someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust) .