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operative

[op-er-uh-tiv, op-ruh-tiv, op-uh-rey-tiv]
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noun
  1. a person engaged, employed, or skilled in some branch of work, especially productive or industrial work; worker.
  2. a detective.
  3. a secret agent; spy.
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adjective
  1. operating, or exerting force, power, or influence.
  2. having force; being in effect or operation: laws operative in this city.
  3. effective or efficacious.
  4. engaged in, concerned with, or pertaining to work or productive activity.
  5. significant; key: The operative word in that sentence is “sometimes.”
  6. Medicine/Medical. concerned with, involving, or pertaining to surgical operations.
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Origin of operative

1590–1600; < Middle French operatif < Latin operāt(us) (see operate) + Middle French -if -ive
Related formsop·er·a·tive·ly, adverbop·er·a·tive·ness, op·er·a·tiv·i·ty [op-er-uh-tiv-i-tee] /ˌɒp ər əˈtɪv ɪ ti/, nounin·ter·op·er·a·tive, noun, adjectivenon·op·er·a·tive, adjectiveun·op·er·a·tive, adjective

Synonyms

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1. workman, factory hand. 2. investigator, agent. 6. effectual, serviceable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for interoperative

Historical Examples

  • This is a world of progressive decentralization and interoperative possibilities.

    The Civilization of Illiteracy

    Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for interoperative

operative

adjective
  1. in force, effect, or operation
  2. exerting force or influence
  3. producing a desired effect; significantthe operative word
  4. of or relating to a surgical procedure
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noun
  1. a worker, esp one with a special skill
  2. US a private detective
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Derived Formsoperatively, adverboperativeness or operativity, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for interoperative

operative

n.

"worker, operator," 1809, from operative (adj.); sense of "secret agent, spy" is first attested 1930, probably from its use by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a title for their private detectives (1905).

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operative

adj.

"producing the intended effect," early 15c., from Old French operatif (14c.) or directly from Late Latin operativus "creative, formative," from operat-, past participle stem of operari (see operation). Weakened sense of "significant, important" is from 1955.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
interoperative in Medicine

operative

(ŏp′ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā′tĭv, ŏp′rə-)
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.
  2. Functioning effectively; efficient.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.