operative : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: operative	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for operative
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
operative adj being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" Antonym(s): inoperative relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry" Synonym(s): surgical, operative Antonym(s): medical effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes" Synonym(s): running(a), operative, functional, working(a) n a person secretly employed in espionage for a government Synonym(s): secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information Synonym(s): private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Operative \Op"erative\, a. [Cf.L. operativus, F. op[82]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"erative\, n. A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory.