actuate
/ˈæktjʊeɪt/verb
1
- with obj. cause (a machine or device) to operate使（机器, 装置）开动：
the pendulum actuates an electrical switch.
摆锤启动了电开关。
2
- （一般作be actuated）cause (someone) to act in a particular way; motivate使（某人）行动; 激发（某人）动机：
the defendants were actuated by malice.
被告的动机源自怨恨。
派生词
actuation
nounactuator
noun词源
late 16th cent.:from medieval Latin actuat- 'carried out， caused to operate'， from the verb actuare, from Latin actus （see ACT）. The original sense was 'carry out in practice'， later 'stir into activity， enliven'; sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.