actuate

actuate
    v 1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction";
         "actuate the circuits" [syn: {trip}, {actuate}, {trigger},
         {activate}, {set off}, {spark off}, {spark}, {trigger off},
         {touch off}]
    2: give an incentive for action; "This moved me to sacrifice my
       career" [syn: {motivate}, {actuate}, {propel}, {move},
       {prompt}, {incite}]
    

Actuate \Ac"tu*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Actuated}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Actuating}.] [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L.
   actus act.]
   1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action;
      to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more
      commonly used of persons.
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            Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by
            the perpetual motion.                 --Johnson.
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            Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with
            ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow
            minds are the least actuated by it.   --Addison.
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   2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate
      what you command." --Jer. Taylor.
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   Syn: To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.
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Actuate \Ac"tu*ate\, a. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.]
   Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] --South.
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40 Moby Thesaurus words for "actuate":
      animate, arouse, circulate, compel, drive, drive on, energize,
      excite, force, forward, foster, galvanize, give an impetus,
      give momentum, goad, impel, incite, mobilize, motivate, move,
      move to action, nudge, power, promote, propel, provoke, push,
      put in motion, rouse, set agoing, set going, set in motion,
      set off, shove, spark, stimulate, stir, thrust, vitalize,
      whip on