Library / English Dictionary

ACTUATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put in motion or move to act

Example:

actuate the circuits

Synonyms:

activate; actuate; set off; spark; spark off; touch off; trigger; trigger off; trip

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "actuate" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Cause:

come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

act (something that people do or cause to happen)

actuation (the act of propelling)

actuator (a mechanism that puts something into automatic action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give an incentive for action

Example:

This moved me to sacrifice my career

Synonyms:

actuate; incite; motivate; move; prompt; propel

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "actuate" is one way to...):

cause; do; make (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally)

Verb group:

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

move (arouse sympathy or compassion in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

act (something that people do or cause to happen)

Credits

 Context examples: 

One of the advantages of these materials is that we can selectively activate portions of a structure and control them using localized or focused light and unlike other light actuated materials based on liquid crystals, these materials can be fashioned to move either toward, or away from the direction of the light.

(New Materials Developed by Scientists Able to Move in Response to Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)