释义 |
op·er·a·tor I. \ˈäpəˌrād.ə(r), -ātə- sometimes ˈäˌprā-\ noun (-s) Etymology: Late Latin, worker, from Latin operatus + -or 1. : one that produces a physical effect or engages himself in the mechanical aspect of any process or activity: as a. : one (as an operative surgeon or dentist) that performs surgical operations b. (1) : a worker who operates a usually specified machine or device as his regular trade < loom operators > broadly : one that uses or operates a machine or device professionally or otherwise — sometimes used to distinguish the user of fixed devices from the driver of automotive devices (2) : driver 1b < operators of motor vehicles > c. : a person in charge of a telephone switchboard, connecting and disconnecting the lines and routing calls; also : a supervisor of such persons d. : a person who transmits or receives telegraphic or radio messages or who operates electronic communications equipment (as radar or computer installation) 2. a. obsolete : maker, creator b. (1) obsolete : a maker of quack medicines or of shoddy or fraudulent articles; broadly : mountebank, fraud (2) : a shrewd and skillful person who knows how to evade or circumvent restrictions, controls, or difficulty : one that is smooth and highly expert in some line 3. a. (1) : a dealer or speculator in stocks or commodities (2) : a person who regularly or professionally engages in some usually financial activity especially on a large scale < an important operator around the gambling houses > b. : a person that actively operates a business (as a mine, a farm, or a store) whether as owner, lessor, or employee 4. a. : a mathematical symbol denoting an operation to be performed < (d/dx) is the differentiating operator > b. : something that performs a logical operation or forms a symbol denoting such an operation (as a quantifier or a sentential connective) c. : function word < a preposition, auxiliary, or conjunction is an operator > 5. : hypnotist II. noun or operator gene : a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes — compare operon herein |