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Operative   /ˈɑpərətɪv/   Listen
Operative

adjective
1.
Being in force or having or exerting force.  "The major tendencies operative in the American political system"  Antonym: inoperative.
2.
Relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine.  Synonym: surgical.  "A surgical procedure" , "Operative dentistry"  Antonym: medical.
3.
Effective; producing a desired effect.
4.
(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing.  Synonyms: functional, running, working.  "A functional set of brakes"
noun
1.
A person secretly employed in espionage for a government.  Synonyms: intelligence agent, intelligence officer, secret agent.
2.
Someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information.  Synonyms: PI, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus, sherlock.



Related searches:
operative field
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
postoperative
preoperative


WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University


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"Operative" Quotes from Famous Books



... of the invention, and praying protection of his right until he shall have matured his invention. Such caveat shall be filed in the confidential archives of the office and preserved in secrecy, and shall be operative for the term of one year ...
— The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing - A Manual of Ready Reference • Joseph Triemens
... you gave is operative," continued Daniel. "So release the thousand and one souls you owe me when you refuse to ...
— The Holy Cross and Other Tales • Eugene Field
... ships, for Asher his havens held them apart. Reuben and the other trans-Jordanic tribes held loosely by the national unity. They had fallen in love with an easy life of pastoral wealth, they did not care to venture anything for the national good. It is still too true that like reasons are largely operative in producing like results. It is seldom from the wealthy and leisurely classes that the bold fighters for great social reformations are recruited. Times of commercial prosperity are usually times of stagnation in regard to these. Reuben lies lazily listening to the ...
— Expositions Of Holy Scripture - Volume I: St. Luke, Chaps. I to XII • Alexander Maclaren
... prefer the eloquence of Hortensius, and Hortensius that of Cicero? Peradventure they mean that I should give testimony of myself by works and effects, not barely by words. I chiefly paint my thoughts, a subject void of form and incapable of operative production; 'tis all that I can do to couch it in this airy body of the voice; the wisest and devoutest men have lived in the greatest care to avoid all apparent effects. Effects would more speak of fortune than of me; they manifest their own office and ...
— The Essays of Montaigne, Complete • Michel de Montaigne
... espied an object which "on a nearer approach and on an accurately cutaneous inspection, seemed to be somebody in a large white wig sitting on an arm-chair made of sponge-cake and oyster-shells." This turned out to be the "Co-operative Cauliflower," who, "while the whole party from the boat was gazing at him with mingled affection and disgust ... suddenly arose, and in a somewhat plumdomphious manner hurried off towards the setting sun, his steps supported by two superincumbent confidential cucumbers ...
— Nonsense Books • Edward Lear


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