activate

verb
/ˈæktɪˌveɪt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actifbor. Middle English actyf English active Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English activate From active + -ate.

  1. derived from actifbor
  2. derived from āctīvusbor

Definitions

  1. To encourage development or induce increased activity

    To encourage development or induce increased activity; to stimulate.

    • activate the economy
  2. To put a device, mechanism (alarm etc.) or system into action or motion

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

    • The pranksters activated the fire alarm by spraying deodorant next to it.
  3. To render more reactive

    To render more reactive; excite.

  4. + 7 more definitions
    1. To render a molecule reactive, active, or effective in performing its function.

    2. To render a substance radioactive.

    3. To hasten a chemical reaction, especially by heating.

    4. To remove the limitations of demoware by providing a license

      To remove the limitations of demoware by providing a license; to unlock.

    5. To aerate in order to aid decomposition of organic matter.

    6. To organize or create a military unit or station.

      • A new squadron was activated.
    7. To bring a player back after an injury.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at activate. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01activate02encourage03foster04children05childer06child07age08stage09activated

A definitional loop anchored at activate. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

9 hops · closes at activate

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA