Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
Effectual or important.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Functional, in working order.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A spy, secret agent, or detective.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A participant in an operation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
being in force or having or exerting force
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: inoperative
adjective
relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: surgical
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: running(a), functional, working(a)
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
effective; producing a desired effect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, shamus, sherlock
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: detective
Narrower terms: hotel detective, house detective, house dick, inquiry agent, store detective
noun
a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: agent
Narrower terms: agent-in-place, agent provocateur, provocateur, bridge agent, case officer, codetalker, windtalker, foot, NOC, spy, undercover agent, walk-in
History
From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive.
Across languages
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
