being in force or having or exerting force; operative regulations; the major tendencies operative in the American political system'

relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; a surgical appendix; a surgical procedure; operative dentistry

[ Syn: surgical ]

a person secretly employed in espionage for a government

[ Syn: secret agent , intelligence officer , intelligence agent ]

someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

[ Syn: private detective , pi , private eye , private investigator , shamus , sherlock ]

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

[ Syn: running , functional , working ]