Textual thesaurus for "operative"

(adj) functional, running, working

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

in running (or working) order; a functional set of brakes

(adj) surgical

relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine

a surgical appendix; a surgical procedure; operative dentistry

(noun) private detective, private eye, private investigator, PI, shamus, sherlock

someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

(noun) intelligence agent, intelligence officer, secret agent

a person secretly employed in espionage for a government