operating

Everyday

1. Working or running, said of a machine or business. tree →
2. Making a machine work; controlling it. tree →
3. Doing a medical operation, cutting into a body to fix it. tree →
4. Used for the work of a hospital operation or of a computer: an operating theatre, an operating system. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it is about machines, shops and buses that are working (operating hours, operating normally). In hospitals, doctors are operating on a patient in the operating theatre (UK) or operating room (US). In computing, the operating system runs the computer. In maths, operating can mean using an operation like adding or multiplying. Phrases: operating hours, operating table, operating system, up and operating.

Examples

• The lift is not operating today, so use the stairs. tree →
• Only trained adults should be operating the lawnmower. tree →
• The surgeon is operating on my grandad's knee. tree →
• Our library's operating hours are nine to five. tree →
• The new operating system made the laptop faster. tree →
• The ferry is operating on a winter timetable. tree →
• When you are operating on fractions, find a common denominator first. tree →

Note

Drop the e of operate before -ing. Operating theatre is UK, operating room is US. A computer's operating system is often shortened to OS.