| verb | direct or control; projects, businesses, etc. “She is running a relief operation in the Sudan” |
| verb | perform as expected when applied “The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in” |
| verb | handle and cause to function “do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol” |
| verb | perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense |
| verb | happen “What is going on in the minds of the people?” |
| verb | keep engaged “engaged the gears” |
| verb | perform surgery on “The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life” |
| adjective | involved in a kind of operation “the operating conditions of the oxidation pond” |
| adjective | being in effect or operation; - Leslie Marmon Silko “de facto apartheid is still operational even in the `new' African nations” |
| operation | noun | the activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.) |
| operator | noun | someone who owns or operates a business |
| running | noun | the act of administering or being in charge of something |
| functioning | noun | process or manner of functioning or operating |
| operative | adjective | (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing |
| operant | adjective | having influence or producing an effect |
| control | noun | a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine |
| maneuver | noun | a military training exercise |
| manoeuvre | noun | a military training exercise |
| engagement | noun | contact by fitting together |
| mesh | noun | contact by fitting together |
| meshing | noun | contact by fitting together |