operative

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See also: opérative

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French operatif (modern French opératif).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/, (colloquial) /ˈɒpɹətɪv/
    • (file)

Adjective[edit]

operative (comparative more operative, superlative most operative)

  1. Effectual or important.
    He's usually in a good mood — the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.
  2. Functional, in working order.
  3. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
    an operative motive
    • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: [] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, [], published 1727, →OCLC:
      It holds in all operative principles.
    • 1988 April 2, Phillip Brian Harper, “Lesbians and gay men of color, speak out!”, in Gay Community News, page 9:
      This call is operative not merely on the level of abstract theory.
  4. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
    an operative dose, rule, or penalty
  5. Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations. [from 18th c.]
    operative surgery

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

operative (plural operatives)

  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.

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

German[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [opəʁaˈtiːvə], [ɔpəʁaˈtiːvə]
  • (file)

Adjective[edit]

operative

  1. inflection of operativ:
    1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
    2. strong nominative/accusative plural
    3. weak nominative all-gender singular
    4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian[edit]

Adjective[edit]

operative

  1. feminine plural of operativo

Anagrams[edit]

Latin[edit]

Adjective[edit]

operātīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of operātīvus

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Adjective[edit]

operative

  1. inflection of operativ:
    1. definite singular
    2. plural

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Adjective[edit]

operative

  1. inflection of operativ:
    1. definite singular
    2. plural

Swedish[edit]

Adjective[edit]

operative

  1. definite natural masculine singular of operativ