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operative |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Operative \Op"er*a*tive\, a. [Cf.L. operativus F. op['e]ratif.] 1. Having the power of acting; hence exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects; as an operative motive. It holds in all operative principles. --South. 2. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious; as an operative dose, rule or penalty. 3. (Surg.) Based upon or consisting of an operation or operations; as operative surgery. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Operative \Op"er*a*tive\, n. A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: 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}]
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