op‧e‧ra‧tor W3 / ɒpəreɪtə $ ɑpəreɪtər / 名词 [可数名词]

1 someone who works on a telephone switchboard , who you can call for help :

Hello, operator? Could you put me through to Room 31?

2 someone who operates a machine or piece of equipment

machine/computer/radio etc operator

computers which can be used by untrained operators

3 a person or company that operates a particular business :

new regulations affecting taxi operators

Julian travelled with Caribbean Connection, the UK’s leading Caribbean tour operator (= company that arranges holidays ) .

a private operator running regular passenger services

4 someone who is good at achieving things by persuading people to help or agree with them :

Monsieur Valentin was a formidable political operator.

He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator (= someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust ) .