operative.

Definition of operative. in English English dictionary: op; Functional, in working order; active; {a} having the power of acting, strong; operant; An operative is someone who works for a government agency such as the intelligence service. Naturally the CIA wants to protect its operatives; being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"; A spy, secret agent, or detective; one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory; Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects; as, an operative motive; Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious; as, an operative dose, rule, or penalty; Based upon, or consisting of, an operation or operations; as, operative surgery; Effectual or important; If you describe a word as the operative word, you want to draw attention to it because you think it is important or exactly true in a particular situation. As long as the operative word is `greed', you can't count on people keeping the costs down; of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery; effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"; {i} worker; craftsman; artisan; person who is employed secretly in spying for a government; A skilled worker; an artisan; esp; being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery; A system or service that is operative is working or having an effect. The commercial telephone service was no longer operative; of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery"; {s} in working order; valid; influential; important; surgical; efficient; (of e g a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"; An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill; relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry"; someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information; a person secretly employed in espionage for a government; An operative is a worker, especially one who does work with their hands. In an automated car plant there is not a human operative to be seen