operative

adj 1: being in force or having or exerting force; "operative

regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the

American political system" [ant: {inoperative}]

2: of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery"

3: 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}]

[ant: {medical}]

4: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"

[syn: {key}]

5: (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in

running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"

[syn: {running(a)}, {functional}, {working(a)}]

n 1: a person secretly employed in espionage for a government

[syn: {secret agent}, {intelligence officer}, {intelligence

agent}]

2: someone who can be employed as a detective to collect

information [syn: {private detective}, {PI}, {private eye},

{private investigator}, {sherlock}]