Adjective
1. being in force or having or exerting force;
"operative regulations""the major tendencies operative in the American political system"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"4. effective; producing a desired effect;
"the operative word"5. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing;
"in running (or working) order""a functional set of brakes"