| 1. |
(adjective) being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" |
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Antonyms: inoperative |
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| 2. |
(satellite adjective) effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" |
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Synonyms: key |
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| 3. |
(adjective) of or relating to a surgical operation; "operative surgery" |
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| 4. |
(satellite adjective) (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes" |
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Synonyms: functional, running, working |
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| 5. |
(adjective) relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry" |
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Synonyms: surgical |
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| 6. |
(noun) a person secretly employed in espionage for a government |
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Synonyms: intelligence agent, intelligence officer, secret agent |
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Related Words: agent, agent provocateur, spy, undercover agent |
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| 7. |
(noun) someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information |
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Synonyms: PI, private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock |
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Related Words: detective, hotel detective, house detective, house dick, inquiry agent, store detective |
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