operative : | |||||||||||||
being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" at work(p), effective, operational, working effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" significant of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery" (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes" functioning relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry" preoperative, postoperative a person secretly employed in espionage for a government someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information |
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