ACTIVATE

activate

(verb) make active or more active; “activate an old file”

activate

(verb) make (substances) radioactive

activate, aerate

(verb) aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter

activate

(verb) make more adsorptive; “activate a metal”

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

(verb) put in motion or move to act; “trigger a reaction”; “actuate the circuits”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Verb

activate (third-person singular simple present activates, present participle activating, simple past and past participle activated)

(transitive) To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.

(transitive) To put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion; to trigger, to actuate, to set off, to enable.

(transitive, chemistry, physics) To render more reactive; excite.

(transitive, biology) To render a molecule reactive, active, or effective in performing its function.

(transitive, physics) To render a substance radioactive.

(transitive, chemistry) To hasten a chemical reaction, especially by heating.

(transitive, computing, software) To remove the limitations of demoware by providing a license; to unlock.

(transitive) To aerate in order to aid decomposition of organic matter.

(transitive, military) To organize or create a military unit or station.

(transitive, sports) To bring a player back after an injury.

Synonyms

• actuate

• enable

• get going

• set going

• set in motion

• set off

• spur

• start

• stimulate

• trigger

• turn on

Antonyms

• deactivate

• inactivate

Anagrams

• cavitate

Source: Wiktionary

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Ac"ti*vate, v. t.

Definition: To make active. [Obs.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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