An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill. / A spy, secret agent, or detective. / A participant in an operation.

Effectual or important. / Functional, in working order. / Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.

plural of operative

(uncountable) The state or quality of being operative. / (countable) The result or product of being operative.

plural of operativeness

In an operative manner.

(transitive or intransitive) To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

Able to be operated or used / Able to be put into operation; practicable / Able to be treated by surgery

One who operates. / A telecommunications facilitator whose job is to establish temporary network connections.

The method by which a device performs its function. / The method or practice by which actions are done. / The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.