English Explanatory Dictionary

operative

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Effectual or important.
  2. Functional, in working order.
  3. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
  4. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
  5. Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
noun
  1. An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
  2. A spy, secret agent, or detective.
  3. A participant in an operation.

Pronunciation

/ˈɒpəɹətɪv/ /ˈɒpɹətɪv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-operative.wav /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/ /ˈɑpɹətɪv/

Word forms

operative more operative most operative operatives

Etymology

From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive.

Related words

operand operant operate operation operational operator

Derived words

co-öperative cooperative co-operative Co-operative Commonwealth Federation disoperative inoperative interoperative intra-operative intraoperative microoperative nonoperative operative clause operatively Operative Masonry operativeness operative word operativity paraoperative perioperative peri-operative peroperative post-operative postoperative preoperative pre-operative reoperative retro-operative transoperative unco-operative unoperative
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