ANIMATE Meaning of ANIMATE in English adj. & v. --adj. 1. having life. 2 lively. --v.tr. 1. enliven, make lively. 2 give life to. 3 inspire, actuate. 4 encourage. Etymology: L animatus past part. of animare give life to f. anima life, soul Oxford English vocab. Оксфордский английский словарь. 2012