operator

Study(13)

UK /ˈɒpəˌɹeɪtə/ US /ˈɑpəˌɹeɪtɚ/

noun 5

Collocations

(noun.) person who connects telephone calls

ADJ

switchboard, telephone

OPERATOR + VERB

connect sb, put sb through

The telephone operator connected me with the hotel's front desk right away.

(noun.) person who works a machine, etc.

ADJ

experienced, skilled | unskilled | machine, plant | computer, lathe, radio, word processor, etc.

(noun.) person/company that does particular business

ADJ

big, small | private | holiday, tour, travel | cable (television), satellite, telecommunications, etc. | airline, bus, coach, ferry

(noun.) sb who is skilful at getting what they want

ADJ

shrewd, slick, smooth

Definitions

noun

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

The drone crashed because of operator error.

The new bus operator has promised to improve the frequency of rural services.

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.

I kept getting "number unobtainable", so I called the operator to find out what was going on.

A member of a military special operations unit.

The game of Chinese whispers.

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.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a shrewd or unscrupulous person who knows how to circumvent

hustler

noun — an agent that operates some apparatus or machine

manipulator

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

smooth operator

A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.

In Washington he has earned a reputation as a smooth operator who can handle lobbyists, bureaucrats and even Congressmen, with a cool head.

Example Bank

The drone crashed because of operator error.

Wiktionary

The new bus operator has promised to improve the frequency of rural services.

Wiktionary

The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whiski

Wiktionary

Operator, I'd like to place a call to Winnipeg, Canada, but I can't quite remember the number.

Tatoeba · #30981

Tom became good friends with the elevator operator in their hotel.

Tatoeba · #37214

Call the operator at 104 then.

Tatoeba · #73476

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, operator is marked as informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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