ac´ti|va´tor

ac|ti|vate «AK tuh vayt», transitive verb, -vat|ed, -vat|ing.

1. to make active; cause to act: »

The storm of recent protests…has also activated many persons in positions of government (Listener).

SYNONYM(S): impel, motivate, prompt.

2. Physics. to make radioactive.

3. Chemistry. to make capable of reacting or of speeding up a reaction.

4. to purify (sewage) by treating it with air and bacteria.

5. to make (charcoal, carbon, etc.) capable of absorbing impurities, especially in the form of gases.

6. U.S. to make (a military unit) active by assigning personnel and equipment to it and issuing orders for duty to it.

–ac´ti|va´tion, noun.

–ac´ti|va´tor, noun.