operative
Use Operative in a sentence
ər noun
1.
a person engaged, employed, or skilled in some branch of work, especially productive or industrial work; worker.
2.
a detective.
3.
a secret agent; spy.
adjective
5.
having force; being in effect or operation: laws operative in this city.
6.
effective or efficacious.
7.
engaged in, concerned with, or pertaining to work or productive activity.
8.
significant; key: The operative word in that sentence is “sometimes.”
9.
Medicine/Medical. concerned with, involving, or pertaining to surgical operations.
00:10
Operative
is always a great word to know.
So is pelvis. Does it mean:
| the depression in the center of the surface of the abdomen indicating the point of attachment of the umbilical cord to the embryo; navel. |
| the basinlike cavity in the lower part of the trunk of many vertebrates, formed in humans by the innominate bones, sacrum, etc. |
Origin:
1590–1600; < Middle French operatif < Latin operāt(us) (see operate) + Middle French -if -ive
1590–1600; < Middle French operatif < Latin operāt(us) (see operate) + Middle French -if -ive
Related forms
op·er·a·tive·ly, adverb
in·ter·op·er·a·tive, noun, adjective
non·op·er·a·tive, adjective
un·op·er·a·tive, adjective
Synonyms
1. workman, factory hand. 2. investigator, agent. 6. effectual, serviceable.
1. workman, factory hand. 2. investigator, agent. 6. effectual, serviceable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To operative
Collins
World English Dictionary
operative (ˈɒpərətɪv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | in force, effect, or operation |
| 2. | exerting force or influence |
| 3. | producing a desired effect; significant: the operative word |
| 4. | of or relating to a surgical procedure |
| —n | |
| 5. | a worker, esp one with a special skill |
| 6. | (US) a private detective |
| 'operatively | |
| —adv | |
| 'operativeness | |
| —n | |
| opera'tivity | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
operative
1598, "producing the intended effect," from L.L. operativus "creative, formative," from operatus, pp. of operari (see operation). Weakened sense of "significant, important" is from 1955. The noun meaning "worker, operator" is from 1809; sense of "secret agent, spy" is
first attested 1930, probably from its use by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a title for their private detectives (1905).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
operative op·er·a·tive (ŏp'ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā'tĭv, ŏp'rə-)
adj.
Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.
Functioning effectively; efficient.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The operative phrase in the above formulation is for the present.
And in many ways he fulfilled that promise, despite being hampered by a weak economy and an often unco-operative city council.
The operative point being the need for more data and more experimental studies.
The simple fact is that not many games can match them for sheer co-operative play.
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