Search Result for "operative": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. a person secretly employed in espionage for a government;
[syn: secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative]

2. someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information;
[syn: private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock]


ADJECTIVE (4)

1. being in force or having or exerting force;
- Example: "operative regulations"
- Example: "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"

2. relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine;
- Example: "a surgical appendix"
- Example: "a surgical procedure"
- Example: "operative dentistry"
[syn: surgical, operative]

3. effective; producing a desired effect;
- Example: "the operative word"

4. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing;
- Example: "in running (or working) order"
- Example: "a functional set of brakes"
[syn: running(a), operative, functional, working(a)]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Operative \Op"er*a*tive\, a. [Cf.L. operativus, F. op['e]ratif.]
   1. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force,
      physical or moral; active in the production of effects;
      as, an operative motive; operative laws.
      [1913 Webster]

            It holds in all operative principles. --South.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious;
      effective; as, an operative dose, rule, or penalty.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Surg.) Based upon, or consisting of, an operation or
      operations; as, operative surgery.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Operative \Op"er*a*tive\, n.
   1. A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a
      machine in a mill or manufactory.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One who acts as an agent of another, especially a
      detective or spy.
      [PJC]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

operative
    adj 1: being in force or having or exerting force; "operative
           regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the
           American political system" [ant: inoperative]
    2: relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery
       especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a
       surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry" [syn: surgical,
       operative] [ant: medical]
    3: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
    4: (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in
       running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"
       [syn: running(a), operative, functional, working(a)]
    n 1: a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
         [syn: secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence
         agent, operative]
    2: someone who can be employed as a detective to collect
       information [syn: private detective, PI, private eye,
       private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock]