actuateverb [ T ]
uk/ˈæk.tʃu.eɪt//ˈæk.tju.eɪt/us/ˈæk.tʃu.eɪt/formal or specializedto make a machine work or be the reason a person acts in a certain way:
A detonator is actuated by heat, percussion, friction, or electricity.
He was actuated almost entirely by altruism.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Machines - Functioning
- asthmatically
- faulty
- fire sth up
- function as sth/sb
- functionally
- operation
- operational
- operative
- order
- pack
- pack up
- peg
- perform
- play up
- right
- roll
- start
- tick
- torpor
- work
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Causing things to happen
actuator
noun [ C ] uk/ˈæk.tʃu.eɪ.tər//ˈæk.tʃu.eɪ.t̬ɚ/formal or specialized
the cruise control actuator