operative

op·er·a·tive  (pr--tv, --rtv, pr-)

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.

2.

a. A secret agent; a spy.

b. A private investigator.

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

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oper·a·tive·ly adv.

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operative [op-rat-tiv]

Adjective

1. in force, effect, or operation: these pension provisions became operative from 1978

2. (of a word) particularly relevant or significant: `if' is the operative word

3. of or relating to a surgical operation

Noun

a worker with a special skill

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	operative - a person secretly employed in espionage for a government intelligence agent, intelligence officer, secret agent agent - a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations agent-in-place - an operative serving as a penetration into an intelligence target agent provocateur, provocateur - a secret agent who incites suspected persons to commit illegal acts bridge agent - an operative who acts as a courier or go-between from a case officer to a secret agent in a hostile area case officer - an operative who also serves as an official staffer of an intelligence service codetalker, windtalker - a secret agent who was one of the Navajos who devised and used a code based on their native language; the code was unbroken by the Japanese during World War II foot - a member of a surveillance team who works on foot or rides as a passenger NOC - an undercover agent who is given no official cover spy, undercover agent - (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors walk-in - an operative who initiates his own defection (usually to a hostile country) for political asylum
	2.	operative - someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus, sherlock, PI detective - an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public hotel detective, house detective, house dick - a private detective employed by a hotel or retail store inquiry agent - a private detective store detective - a private detective employed by a merchant to stop pilferage
Adj.	1.	operative - being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" inoperative - not working or taking effect; "an inoperative law"
	2.	operative - relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry" surgical
	3.	operative - effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" significant, important - important in effect or meaning; "a significant change in tax laws"; "a significant change in the Constitution"; "a significant contribution"; "significant details"; "statistically significant"
	4.	operative - (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes" working, functional, running functioning - performing or able to perform its regular function; "a functioning flashlight"

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operative

adjective 1. in force, current, effective, standing, functioning, active, efficient, in effect, in business, operational, functional, in operation, workable, serviceable << OPPOSITE inoperative

adjective 2. relevant, important, key, fitting, significant, appropriate, crucial, influential, apt, applicable, indicative, pertinent, apposite, germane

noun 3. worker, hand, employee, mechanic, labourer, workman, artisan, machinist, working man or working woman

4. U.S., Canad. spy, secret agent, double agent, secret service agent, undercover agent, mole, foreign agent, fifth columnist, nark Brit., Austral., N.Z. (slang)

Translations

operative [ˈɔpərətɪv] adj [measure] → en vigor;

the operative word → la palabra clave

operative [ˈɔpərətɪv] adj [measure] → en vigueur

n (in factory) → ouvrier/ière;

the operative word → le mot clef

operative [ˈɔpərətɪv] operate adj [measure, system] → wirksam; [law] → gültig

n (in factory) → Maschinenarbeiter(in) m(f);

the operative word operate → das entscheidende Wort

operative [ˈɔpərətɪv] adj [measure] → operativo/a

n (in factory) → operaio/a;

the operative word → la parola chiave