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operative

 - 5 dictionary results
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op⋅er⋅a⋅tive

  [op-er-uh-tiv, op-ruh-tiv, op-uh-rey-tiv]
–noun
1. a person engaged, employed, or skilled in some branch of work, esp. productive or industrial work; worker.
2. a detective.
3. a secret agent; spy.
–adjective
4. operating, or exerting force, power, or influence.
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.
Use operative in a Sentence
Origin:
1590–1600; < MF operatif < L operāt(us) (see operate ) + MF -if -ive

Related forms:
op⋅er⋅a⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
op⋅er⋅a⋅tive⋅ness, op⋅er⋅a⋅tiv⋅i⋅ty  [op-er-uh-tiv-i-tee] , noun

Synonyms:
1. workman, factory hand. 2. investigator, agent. 6. effectual, serviceable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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op·er·a·tive   (ŏp'ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā'tĭv, ŏp'rə-)   
adj.  

  1. Being in effect; having force; operating: "Two major tendencies are operative in the American political system" (Heinz Eulau).

  2. Functioning effectively; efficient.

  3. Engaged in or concerned with physical or mechanical activity.

  4. Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.

  5. Significant; most important; key: The operative word is "low-fat."

n.  

  1. A skilled worker, especially in industry.

    1. A secret agent; a spy.

    2. A private investigator.

  3. One who works for a political organization, often wielding influence out of public view.

op'er·a·tive·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

operative  (adj.)
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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: op·er·a·tive
Pronunciation: 'äp-(&-)r&t-iv, 'äp-&-"rAt-
Function: adjective
: of, relating to,involving, or resulting from an operation <operative surgery> <operative dentistry> operative death—Lancet>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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operative op·er·a·tive (ŏp'ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā'tĭv, ŏp'rə-)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.

  2. 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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