activating
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
Related to activating: validating, affirming
ac·ti·vate
(ăk′tə-vāt′)tr.v. ac·ti·vat·ed, ac·ti·vat·ing, ac·ti·vates
1. To set in motion; make active or more active.
2. To organize or create (a military unit, for example): activate the National Guard.
3. To treat (sewage) with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition.
4. Chemistry To accelerate a reaction in, as by heat.
5. Physics To make (a substance) radioactive.
6. Biology To convert (a molecule or cell) into a form that carries out a specific action: activate an enzyme; activate B cells.
ac′ti·va′tion n.
ac′ti·va′tor n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" electrification - the activity of thrilling or markedly exciting some person or group |
Adj. | 1. | ![]() causative - producing an effect; "poverty as a causative factor in crime" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.