#1
operative a. being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"
. wn #2
operative n. [
secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent] a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
. wn #3
operative n. [
private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, shamus, sherlock] someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
. wn #4
operative a. [
surgical] relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry"
. wn #5
operative s. effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
. wn