operative (
http://definr.com/operative)
adj 1: being in force or having or exerting force; "operative
regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the
American political system" [ant:
inoperative]
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" [syn:
surgical]
[ant:
medical]
4: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
[syn:
key]
5: (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in
running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"
[syn:
running(a),
functional,
working(a)]
n 1: a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
[syn:
secret agent,
intelligence officer, {intelligence
agent}]
2: someone who can be employed as a detective to collect
information [syn:
private detective,
PI,
private eye,
private investigator,
shamus,
sherlock]