Link Centre Dictionary

operative

ope·ra·tive

UK/ˈɒpəɹətɪv/ US/ˈɒpɹətɪv/ fairly common
adjective (5) noun (2)

adjective

1.

being in force or having or exerting force

  • “operative regulations”
  • “the major tendencies operative in the American political system”
Antonyms
Similar
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”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Similar
4.

effective; producing a desired effect

  • “the operative word”
Synonyms
Similar
5.

(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

  • “in running (or working) order”
  • “a functional set of brakes”
Synonyms
Similar

noun

1.
2.

Origin

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

Phrases

  • Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
  • operative clause
  • Operative Masonry
  • operative word

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.