Operator \Op"er*a`tor\, n. [L.]
   1. One who, or that which, operates or produces an effect.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Surg.) One who performs some act upon the human body by
      means of the hand, or with instruments.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A dealer in stocks or any commodity for speculative
      purposes; a speculator. [Brokers' Cant]
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Math.) The symbol that expresses the operation to be
      performed; -- called also facient.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A person who operates a telephone switchboard.
      [PJC]

   6. A person who schemes and maneuvers adroitly or deviously
      to achieve his/her purposes.
      [PJC]

	

	operator
     n 1: (mathematics) a symbol that represents a function from
          functions to functions; "the integral operator"
     2: an agent that operates some apparatus or machine; "the
        operator of the switchboard" [syn: manipulator]
     3: someone who owns or operates a business; "who is the
        operator of this franchise?"
     4: a shrewd or unscrupulous person who knows how to circumvent
        difficulties [syn: hustler, wheeler dealer]
     5: a speculator who trades aggressively on stock or commodity
        markets

	

	105 Moby Thesaurus words for "operator":
   Machiavellian, PBX operator, activist, actor, administrator,
   adventurer, agent, architect, author, ball of fire, beaver,
   behind-the-scenes operator, big operator, big wheel,
   big-time operator, bustler, busy bee, central, coconspirator,
   conductor, conniver, conspirator, conspirer, counterplotter,
   creator, director, doer, driver, eager beaver, eminence grise,
   engineer, enthusiast, executant, executor, executrix, exploiter,
   fabricator, faker, finagler, fraud, functionary, gamesman,
   go-getter, gray eminence, gunslinger, handler, human dynamo,
   hustler, intrigant, intriguer, kingmaker, lame duck, live wire,
   logroller, long distance, machinator, maker, man of action,
   man of deeds, manager, maneuverer, manipulator, margin purchaser,
   medium, militant, mover, new broom, operant, operative,
   operative surgeon, opportunist, performer, perpetrator, pilot,
   plotter, plunger, political activist, pork-barrel politician,
   powerhouse, practitioner, prime mover, producer, runner, sawbones,
   scalper, schemer, smart operator, smoothie, speculator, stag,
   steersman, strategist, subject, superintendent, supervisor,
   surgeon, switchboard operator, take-charge guy, telephone operator,
   telephonist, wheeler-dealer, winner, wire-puller, wise guy,
   worker

	

	operator
     
         A symbol used as a function, with infix
        syntax if it has two arguments (e.g. "+") or prefix syntax if
        it has only one (e.g. Boolean NOT).  Many languages use
        operators for built-in functions such as arithmetic and logic.
     
        (1995-04-30)