actuate4 definitions found actuate - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 : Actuate \Ac"tu*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Actuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Actuating.] [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L. actus act.] 1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons. [1913 Webster] Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion. --Johnson. [1913 Webster] Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it. --Addison. [1913 Webster] 2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate what you command." --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] Syn: To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate. [1913 Webster] Actuate \Ac"tu*ate\, a. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.] Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] --South. [1913 Webster] actuate - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) : actuate v 1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits" [syn: trip, actuate, trigger, activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off] 2: give an incentive for action; "This moved me to sacrifice my career" [syn: motivate, actuate, propel, move, prompt, incite] actuate - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 : 40 Moby Thesaurus words for "actuate": animate, arouse, circulate, compel, drive, drive on, energize, excite, force, forward, foster, galvanize, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, impel, incite, mobilize, motivate, move, move to action, nudge, power, promote, propel, provoke, push, put in motion, rouse, set agoing, set going, set in motion, set off, shove, spark, stimulate, stir, thrust, vitalize, whip on |