OPERATING

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does operating mean? 

• OPERATING (adjective)
  The adjective OPERATING has 2 senses:

1. involved in a kind of operation

2. being in effect or operation

  Familiarity information: OPERATING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OPERATING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Involved in a kind of operation

Classified under:

Participial adjectives

Context example:

the operating conditions of the oxidation pond

Participle:

operate (perform as expected when applied)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being in effect or operation

Synonyms:

in operation; operating; operational

Context example:

the company had several operating divisions

Similar:

operative (being in force or having or exerting force)

 Context examples 

A device designed to show an operating condition of a system or to attract attention.

(Indicator Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

Far from operating as a reflex, color perception involves a set of sophisticated brain operations that ultimately assign value and meaning to what we see.

(Rosy health and sickly green: color associations play robust role in reading faces, National Institutes of Health)

It might be even more worrisome, in that kids in urban environments are operating in more of a toxic chemical soup than kids in a more rural environment.

(Infants, Toddlers at More Risk from Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke than Thought, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The National Research Council organized by NAS serves as the principal operating agency to stimulate and support research.

(National Academy of Science, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Operating most effectively in a particular direction.

(Directionality, NCI Thesaurus)

"The reality is that we've been operating with a skewed view of ocean phosphate," Lomas said.

(Study reveals new patterns of key ocean nutrient, National Science Foundation)

A surgeon removes or repairs a part of the body by operating on the patient.

(Pediatric surgeon, NCI Dictionary)

I had imagined you as operating from the street, where my friend, Lestrade and his merry men were awaiting you.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Catching its shadow involved eight ground-based radio telescopes around the globe, operating together as if they were one telescope the size of our entire planet.

(Black Hole Image Makes History, NASA)

A Russian telescope being set up at the Pico dos Dias Observatory in Brazópolis, Minas Gerais, is due to start operating later this month.

(High tech Russian telescope to start operating in Brazil, Agência Brasil)