I. ˈäpəˌrād.ə(r), -ātə- sometimes ˈäˌprā- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin, worker, from Latin operatus + -or
1. : one that produces a physical effect or engages himself in the mechanical aspect of any process or activity: as
a. : one (as an operative surgeon or dentist) that performs surgical operations
b.
(1) : a worker who operates a usually specified machine or device as his regular trade
loom operators
broadly : one that uses or operates a machine or device professionally or otherwise — sometimes used to distinguish the user of fixed devices from the driver of automotive devices
(2) : driver 1b
operators of motor vehicles
c. : a person in charge of a telephone switchboard, connecting and disconnecting the lines and routing calls ; also : a supervisor of such persons
d. : a person who transmits or receives telegraphic or radio messages or who operates electronic communications equipment (as radar or computer installation)
2.
a. obsolete : maker , creator
b.
(1) obsolete : a maker of quack medicines or of shoddy or fraudulent articles ; broadly : mountebank , fraud
(2) : a shrewd and skillful person who knows how to evade or circumvent restrictions, controls, or difficulty : one that is smooth and highly expert in some line
3.
a.
(1) : a dealer or speculator in stocks or commodities
(2) : a person who regularly or professionally engages in some usually financial activity especially on a large scale
an important operator around the gambling houses
b. : a person that actively operates a business (as a mine, a farm, or a store) whether as owner, lessor, or employee
4.
a. : a mathematical symbol denoting an operation to be performed
(d/dx) is the differentiating operator
b. : something that performs a logical operation or forms a symbol denoting such an operation (as a quantifier or a sentential connective)
c. : function word
a preposition, auxiliary, or conjunction is an operator
5. : hypnotist
II. noun
or operator gene
: 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 — compare operon herein