to make active; cause to function or act.

Physics .

to render more reactive; excite

to activate a molecule.

to induce radioactivity.

to aerate (sewage) in order to accelerate decomposition of impure organic matter by microorganisms.

Chemistry .

to make (carbon, a catalyst, molecules, etc.) more active.

to hasten (reactions) by various means, as heating.

to place (a military unit or station) on an active status in an assigned capacity.

verb

arrest , stop

verb

actify , actuate , arouse , call up , energize , impel , mobilize , motivate , move , prompt , propel , rouse , set in motion , start , stimulate , stir , switch on , take out of mothballs , trigger , turn onnotes:when something is activated , it is made active; when something is actuated , it is moved to take action (or produce a consequence)to actuate is a general word meaning \'to set working\' and has more to do with mechanical action - while activate is used mainly in scientific expressions , animate , bestir , charge , raise , spark , vitalize