WordWeb Online

1. (of sewage) treated with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition
    
2. (of e.g. a molecule) made reactive or more reactive
   - excited
    
3. Rendered active; e.g. rendered radioactive or luminescent or photosensitive or conductive
    
4. (military) set up and placed on active assignment
   "a newly activated unit"

1. Put in motion or move to act
   "activate the circuits"
   - trip, actuate, trigger, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off
    
2. Make active or more active
   "activate an old file"
    
3. Make more adsorptive
   "activate a metal"
    
4. Aerate (sewage) so as to favour the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter
   - aerate
    
5. Make (substances) radioactive

See also: activation, activator, active, reactive, treated

Type of: alter, change, initiate, modify, pioneer

Antonym: inactivate

Encyclopedia: Activate