First Known Use: 1645
Dictionary
actuate
verb ac·tu·ate \ˈak-chə-ˌwāt, -shə-\
: to make (a machine or electrical device) move or operate
: to cause someone to do something or to act in a certain way
ac·tu·at·edac·tu·at·ing
Full Definition of ACTUATE
transitive verb
1
: to put into mechanical action or motion
2
: to move to action
— ac·tu·a·tion \ˌak-chə-ˈwā-shən, -shə-\ noun
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Origin of ACTUATE
Medieval Latin actuatus, past participle of actuare to execute, from Latin actus act
Related to ACTUATE
Synonym Discussion of ACTUATE
move, actuate, drive, impel mean to set or keep in motion. move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position <moved the furniture>. actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion <turbines actuated by waterpower>. drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus <a ship driven aground by hurricane winds>. impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus <a candidate impelled by ambition>.
Other Mechanical Engineering Terms
Rhymes with ACTUATE
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