/ ˈɒpəreɪtə(r); NAmE ˈɑːp-/ noun
1.
(often in compounds) a person who operates equipment or a machine :
a computer / machine operator
2.
( BrE also tel·eph·on·ist ) a person who works on the telephone switchboard of a large company or organization, especially at a telephone exchange
3.
(often in compounds) a person or company that runs a particular business :
a tour operator
a bus operator
4.
( informal , especially disapproving ) a person who is skilful at getting what they want, especially when this involves behaving in a dishonest way :
a smooth / slick / shrewd operator
5.
( mathematics ) a symbol or function which represents a operation in mathematics