Hypertext Webster Gateway: "operative"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
It holds in all operative principles. --South.
2. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious;
as, an operative dose, rule, or penalty.
3. (Surg.) Based upon, or consisting of, an operation or
operations; as, operative surgery.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Operative \Op"er*a*tive\, n.
A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a
machine in a mill or manufactory.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
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: of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery"
3: 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}]
[ant: {medical}]
4: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
[syn: {key}]
5: (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in
running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"
[syn: {running(a)}, {functional}, {working(a)}]
n 1: a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
[syn: {secret agent}, {intelligence officer}, {intelligence
agent}]
2: someone who can be employed as a detective to collect
information [syn: {private detective}, {PI}, {private eye},
{private investigator}, {shamus}, {sherlock}]
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