operator

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an agent that operates some apparatus or machine

   the operator of the switchboard

2. 2
   noun

   someone who owns or operates a business

   who is the operator of this franchise?

3. 3
   noun

   A person or organisation that operates a device, system, service, etc.

   The drone crashed because of operator error.

4. 4
   noun

   A telecommunications facilitator whose job is to connect or otherwise assist callers.

   To get an international line, you used to have to go through the operator.

5. 5
   noun

   A surgeon; one who performs medical operations.

   1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados Oh, a very well-known man. He has a great reputation as an operator for peritonitis.

6. 6
   noun

   A person who is adept at making deals or getting results, especially one who uses questionable methods.

   Francis Urquhart: I think Lord Billsborough is starting to lose touch a bit. Tim Stamper: Shame. Used to be a hell of an operator in his day.

7. 7
   noun

   A kind of expression that enters into an a-bar movement dependency and is said to bind a variable.

   In the sentence "What did Bill say he wants to buy?", "what" is an operator, binding a phonetically empty variable.

8. 8
   noun

   A thief or charlatan.

   Sir Ol. Sirrah! I got many a round Sum by it, when my Father wou'd not give me a Groat—Then, Sir, I was in with all the Top Gameſters, and when there was a fat Squire to be fleec'd; I had my Office among them too, and tho' I ſay it, was one of the neateſt Operators about Town.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin operātor, from operor (“work, labour”). Equivalent to operate + -or.