operator
noun
ˈɒpəreɪtə noun
1 someone who works on a telephone SWITCHBOARD , who you can call for help 电话接线员
Hello, operator? Could you put me through to Room 31?
喂，接线员吗？请帮我接 31 号房间。
2 someone who operates a machine or piece of equipment 〔机器或设备的〕操作者，操作员
machine/computer/radio etc operator
computers which can be used by untrained operators
未受过训练的操作者也会使用的计算机
3 a person or company that operates a particular business 经营者; 公司
new regulations affecting taxi operators
对出租汽车公司有影响的新规定
Julian travelled with Caribbean Connection, the UK’s leading Caribbean tour operator (=company that arranges holidays) .
朱利安随加勒比联运 — 英国主要的加勒比旅游服务公司去旅游。
a private operator running regular passenger services
一家提供定期客运服务的私营公司
4 someone who is good at achieving things by persuading people to help or agree with them 善于摆布他人的人，精明圆滑的人
Monsieur Valentin was a formidable political operator.
瓦伦廷先生是个令人生畏的耍弄政治手腕的高手。
He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator (=someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust) .
虽然表面看不出来，但纽曼的确是个八面玲珑的取巧者。