Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Op·er·a·tive

   /ˈäp(ə)rədiv/

   

   adjective

   • 1. functioning or having effect: "the transmitter is operative" Similar in forcein operationeffectivein effectvalidfunctioningworkingrunningup and runningin operationin usein actiongoingoperationalworkableserviceablefunctionalusablein working order/conditionviableOpposite invalidout of order
   • ▪ (of a word) having the most relevance or significance in a phrase or sentence: "a young man, and the operative word is young, should go into the armed services at around seventeen" Similar keysignificantrelevantapplicablepertinentappositegermaneaproposcrucialcriticalmainchiefmajorcentralpivotalfundamentalvitalimportantessentialOpposite irrelevant
   • 2. relating to surgery: "they had wounds needing operative treatment"

   noun

   • 1. a worker, especially a skilled one in a manufacturing industry. Similar machinist(machine) operatormechanicengineerdriverworkerworkman(factory) handartisancraftsmancraftswomanblue-collar workermachine minder
   • ▪ a private detective or secret agent. Similar agentsecret agentundercover agentspymoleplantdouble agentcounterspyinformal:spookarchaic:intelligencerarchaic, informal:beagledetectiveprivate detectiveinvestigatorprivate investigatorsleuthshadowenquiry agentinformal:private eyetailinformal, dated:gumshoebogeydick

   Word Origin late Middle English: from late Latin operativus, from Latin operat- ‘done by labor’, from the verb operari (see operate).

   Derivatives

   • 1. operatively adverb
   • 2. operativeness noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • O

     1

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less